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Fishery Officers Slashed Year On Year
Phil Heatley MP
National Party Fisheries Spokesman
15 January 2007
Fishery Officers Slashed Year On Year
National Party Fisheries spokesman Phil Heatley says the Fisheries Ministry decision to slash the number of honorary fisheries officers (HFOs) is making it far too easy for poachers to ravage our fish and shellfish stocks.
“Since 2002 we have seen honorary officer numbers slashed by 35%, from 246 to only 161 officers active on the ground today,” says Mr Heatley.
“Furthermore, HFOs now have to work in pairs, so the ground they cover is effectively halved.
“HFOs are the ministry’s eyes and ears on the ground. With 18,200 km of coast to patrol, these officer pairs now have to watch an average of 230 km of coastline each.
“The only outcome we can expect from this is more poaching.”
Mr Heatley says the inshore fishery has to be better protected.
“Given the slump in officer numbers it should be of little surprise that it’s estimated that 20% of the high value crayfish catch and half of all paua collected is taken illegally.”
ENDS
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