A growing alliance of locals, business leaders, and environmental groups is backing the Waikato Regional Council’s (WRC) move to restrict commercial fishing methods in Coromandel waters, describing it as a necessary step in protecting the marine environment.
The decision comes amid what advocates say is a lack of action from central government. “Fisheries Minister Shane Jones and the government have refused to do anything to limit destructive fishing practices, so it’s impressive to see a regional council push for greater protections of our marine environment,” says Scott Macindoe, President of the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council (NZSFC).
Under the WRC’s new Coastal Management Plan, mobile bottom contact fishing methods — such as bottom trawling — will be restricted to a select area of the Coromandel coast. The plan is now before Conservation Minister Tama Potaka for approval and has gained strong support from environmental, business, and recreational fishing groups.
Macindoe says while the NZSFC would prefer fishing activity to be regulated under the Fisheries Act, the failure of central government to act has forced regional councils to apply the Resource Management Act to “protect the marine environment from destructive fishing techniques.”
“To address the adverse environmental impacts of these destructive fishing activities requires a significant shift in attitude and change to industry practices – the community is helping to drive this change,” he said.
The WRC proposal mirrors a previous government plan for trawl corridors in the Hauraki Gulf — a move Shane Jones rejected earlier this year, saying: “So the Matua [referring to himself] and New Zealand First are just never, ever going to agree to that for as long as we have political light left in our bloodstream.”
Waikato Regional Councillor Warren Maher said lessons from the collapsed Coromandel scallop fishery show why change is essential. “If the scallop fishery reopens, more selective and low-impact techniques such as hand gathering should be used. That is why the Waikato Regional Council released the coastal plan to better protect the marine environment from the damage caused by bottom trawling and scallop dredging,” he said.
Former Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club President Gordon McIvor said the council’s decision is a “powerful opportunity” for the seafood industry to transition toward more sustainable methods. “People using destructive seabed-contact fishing methods, particularly box dredging for scallops, have lost their social licence to operate,” he says. “Without a healthy ecosystem and fish in the water, there will be no seafood industry.”
The Mercury Bay Business Association also backs the plan. Member Ken Hindmarsh said it strikes the right balance between conservation and economic opportunity. “It delivers a massive positive impact for local businesses and creates exciting new opportunities for growth in tourism and other related industries. These changes will help protect our marine ecosystem and further enhance the region’s appeal for both tourists and residents.”
