About West Cost Whitebaiters Association Incorporated
History
On the 14th. June 1994 a meeting of concerned fisherpeople was held at Hari Hari to express concern and disatisfaction that the Department of Conservation were changing the rules for whitebaiting on the West Coast. Intended changes to timing of the fishing season were causing the greatest concern.
West Cost Whitebaiters Association Incorporated
This and subsequent meetings up and down the West Coast were the basis for the formation of this Association. It is now history this Association, with able assistance from then Wellington lawer Mr. Tony Ford (now Chief Judge in Tonga) were able to reverse the original D.O.C. decision and have the West Coast whitebaiting season returned to it's original dates.
Since then this Association has been in almost constant consultation with D.O.C. and discussed a myriad of issues affecting whitebaiters and whitebaiting
While much of the work of this Association has been one of advocacy, working with government and local bodies (D.O.C. Regional and District Councils etc.) it also provides an important forum to allow individuals to express their views and air personal opinions on how they see the future of the fishery. Both from a fishing point of view and conservation for the future.
Objects of Association
- To protect and enhance by all possible means the interests of whitebait fishers in the territorial areas covered by the Whitebait Fishing(West Coast) Regulations 1994 or any replacement regulations or statutory provisions.
- To encourage, promote and safeguard in any manner which the Association thinks fit the conservation and propagation of all species of whitebait in the recognition that the resource must be preserved for the benefit of present and future generations.
- To recognise and honour the Treaty of Waitangi,
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Presents Comments.
West Coast Regional Council.
Proposed Regional Land and Water Plan.
The WCRC is incorporating its Whitebait Policy into this plan.
Submissions have being called. We have 20 working days from 17th September 2010.
This may effect registered stand holders. You can find submission forms at the bottom of the following: www.wcrc.govt.nz/plans/rma_plans/land_water.htm The changes to whitebait policy are also shown on this page under Whitebait Policy Link.
If you are an association member and wish us to assist you with your submission, contact
The secretary or myself. Contact details are on our web site.
If you have not yet filled out a whitebaiter survey form you can do so via our web site.
Click the link to www.auchinvole.com or go direct to that site and click survey.
Survey forms are also available at the following locations:
Buller: Karamea Camp. Little Wanganui Hotel. Seddonville Hotel. Westport Workingman’s Club. Criterion Hotel. DOC Centre.
Greymouth: Kells Hotel. Railway Hotel. Greymouth Workingman’s Club. Liquorland.
Paroa Hotel.
Hokitika: Super Liquor. Hokitika Workingman’s Club. Pioneer Hotel.
Sth. Westland: City Hotel Ross. Harihari Hotel. Whataroa Hotel. Curly Tree Whitebait Buyers Waita River. Hard Antler Bar Haast. Haast Heritage Hotel. Haast Beach Motor Camp.
Cascade Whitebait Buyers. West bait Whitebait Buyers.
I encourage every whitebaiter to fill out a survey form. Not only will this survey give us a clearer picture of fishing practices river by river. It will also indicate changes you seek to
the regulations. The survey results will have influence.
The Association will be advertising this information in the next addition of The Messenger.