DOC investigates as whitebait catches decline

Friday, 2 December 2016

The Department of Conservation is investigating the state of the whitebait fishery as catch numbers in Southland continue to decline.

The region's recreational whitebaiters say catch limits may have to be imposed to preserve the fishery for future generations.

However, before any decisions are made, they want scientific data which outlines the state of the fishery.

Whitebaiters have again caught less of the delicacy in Southland this season and the declining numbers in recent years is worrying industry insiders who say action is needed to address the issue.

Southland Recreational Whitebaiters Association president Roger McNaughton said there had been an 'overall decline' in catch numbers over the years.

McNaughton said he wanted to see the fishery sustainable for future generations, so believed it was time to review the regulations. 

However, he did not want any major decisions made without seeing scientific data showing the true state of the fishery.

If data dictated, it may be time to introduce whitebait catch limits and shorten the 3.5 month seasons in a bid to get the fishery back on track, he said.

DOC managed the fishery but DOC was under resourced, McNaughton said.

'I think most whitebaiters would like to see more of them [DOC staff] on the river to make sure people are abiding by the rules, including having only one net.'

Any review of the regulations needed to be done with DOC and whitebaiters together, McNaughton said.

The Department of Conservation confirmed on Friday it was collating information on the management of New Zealand's whitebait fishery.

DOC acting aquatic director Peter Brunt said the information gathered would allow the department to get a better picture of how existing measures were performing and whether improvements were needed. 

DOC was also working in partnership with Otago University on research into the structure of whitebait stocks.

'The results of this research will help to inform whitebait fishery management decisions. Some of the research is likely to take place Southland.'

Southland Conservation Board chairman John Whitehead said he understood DOC was  investigating whether there was a 'real decline' in whitebait numbers.

The board, concerned about reports of declining whitebait numbers 12 months ago, wrote to the New Zealand Conservation Authority suggesting sterner whitebait regulations be looked at.

'The authority has got [DoC] looking to see whether there's a real decline in the whitebait catch over the years rather than a perceived decline, and if yes, what's the reason for it.'

No results had come through yet, Whitehead said.

'These things take time, it's being worked through by DOC head office.'

The reports of declining whitebait catches were of concern to most of the conservation boards around the country, Whitehead said.

However, like McNaughton, he also wanted to see the results of any studies of the whitebait fishery before new regulations were put in place.

'I don't want regulations without seeing the science behind it.'

A range of things impacted on whitebait, including intensive farming which affected water quality, he said.

The conservation board's aim was for the public to be able to catch a feed of whitebait 'forever'.

Queenstown man Ken Cochrane, who has been whitebaiting for 18 years, said his season on the Aparima River started well but fell apart in October and November.

Less whitebait were being caught each year for a variety of reasons, he believed.

'We have got more people doing it, it's one of the few fisheries in the world which [does not have catch limits] and a great deal of the whitebait habitat has been destroyed by intensive agricultural practices and that leads to a reduction in the species.'

He also called on DOC to enforce the present whitebait regulations.

Invercargill whitebaiter Stuart Sutherland, who fishes the Oreti River, said his catch was down on previous years.

'A lot of people struggled this year, there wasn't a lot of whitebait for weekend fishermen.'

He believed the catch was largely dependant on the weather and river conditions, but agreed the whitebait were probably in decline.

Environment Southland compliance team leader Jarred Martin said checks of whitebait stands in the region during the season revealed few issues.

'The vast majority were compliant … and the whitebaiters were friendly and helpful.'