Media statement
For immediate release
Tuesday, 7 December 2004
Baldock delighted by Minister’s backdown
United Future fisheries spokesman, Larry Baldock, has congratulated Recreational Fishing NZ, Big Game Fishing and Option
4, on their achievement in forcing a backdown by the Minister of Fisheries, David Benson-Pope.
“His willingness to drop any attempt to alter recreational fishing bag limits is simply an admission that he got it all
wrong in the beginning,” said Mr Baldock.
“Reducing bag limits was pointless, once the kahawai had been allocated to the commercial fishing interests of the purse
seine fishers .
“While I welcome the announcement, I congratulate the spokesperson for Recreational Fishing interests on continuing to
press the Government for a full review of the quota allocation.
“The Greens’ suggestion of more research is a pathetic compromise when that was already promised by the Minister and
announced at the Recreational Fishing Council meeting in July this year.
“The Government must take seriously the amateur fishing groups’ concerns and do something about commercial purse seine
fishing in kahawai, or face the consequences of legal action which has been well prepared and well supported by the
recreational fishing community.
End.