West Coast Whitebaiters Association AGM 19 June 2011

                                     Presidents Report.

This is my first annual report to this organization. I was elected president in circumstances that were far from ideal. The incumbent Jim Bushby was forced to retire due to failing health which resulted in his passing shortly thereafter. My experience of this organization at that time was about zero. So it has been an interesting challenge picking up the strings, and getting to know the personalities.

Some will have found my style different to my predecessor, and I guess that is to be expected. The organization was going through some challenging times, with some
controversial matters being considered. It was my view that we needed to take a pace back, and test the opinions of the membership and whitebaiters generally, before enacting policy. We have now done this.

Events throughout the year:
Pre season meeting with Westland Milk Products, where changes to their discharge system were discussed. WMP have upgraded and shifted their discharge outlet from the north channel of the Hokitika River to remove the contamination effects being experienced by whitebaiters. This exercise appears a success. Additionally WMP undertook to ensure the North Channel was kept open. I have not heard of any problems
experienced by baiters. This project, while a temporary fix, appears to be successful.

Pre season meeting with DOC where proposals for increased policing of the fishery were discussed. DOC indicated increases in budget and manning for their operations.
Our post season meeting indicated this has been successful, with a number of pre and post season poachers been caught and charged, plus a number of illegal nets being ceased. Overall DOC record that the amount of offending was down. Greater advertising
and a higher profile presence has helped. We will work to ensure the trend continues.

At the beginning of the season I toured with DOC and Dr Mike Hickford giving presentations to whitebaiters on whitebait life cycle, breeding habitat, and protection
and restoration of breeding sites. My main focus was to promote the association, recruit,
and alert people to the pending Whitebaiter Survey. This exercise was useful not only for its educational value, but also its raising awareness of our association and its work. From this we gained a number of new members. I was hopeful of opening a branch in Northern Buller, but we are not quite there yet. More work to be done.

The Whitebaiter Survey was the brain child of  Chris Auchinvole our electorate MP. We embraced and actively promoted the undertaking as a valuable tool for accessing the feelings of whitebaiters generally. I want to voice my thanks to the many people who assisted in promoting and distributing survey forms. This was a major exercise widely advertised throughout the region. I was disappointed at the low response, about 10% return. This was considered as normal by those experienced in the survey business, and it dose give a usable assessment of opinions.
There was a lengthy delay in advertising the results. The collation was undertaken by Fran Cohen at the MPs electorate office. This large task was disrupted by events at Pike River. My thanks to Fran for concluding the task in such trying circumstances.
The results can be viewed on our web site. It can be seen from these results which issues
we have a mandate to promote, and which we do not. Overall a useful tool.

Throughout the season there were a number of television programs on various aspects of
West Coast whitebaiting. All of the programmers made arrangements through the association.

Hokitika I Site requested assistance in developing a Whitebait theme in their public space promotion.

Hokitika museum was in discussion about building a historic interactive display on whitebaiting.

I have had a number of discussions with Regional Council officers on various aspects of
Council’s regulations, monitoring, and changes to policy. Of particular concern was the issue of water quality.

I called Council compliance officers to view serious contamination that has been appearing on the Waitangitaona River for a number of years. Identification of the actual source, or sources, is proving challenging. Clearly it relates to the intensive dairy farming happening in the catchment. There are other rivers being affected. But the Waitangitaona is serious example of an internationally acclaimed waterway been badly contaminated, and no clear program to address the problem.

Dairy farming is a vital part of our regions economy, and I’m not about to lead a beat up on the sector. It is to the benefit of all parties to address contamination issues. To this end I am seeking to promote a joint venture approach, including Farmers, Westland Milk Products, Regional and District Councils, Community Groups, DOC, Fish & Game, and ourselves developing a joint venture approach. A lot of work is needed to protect breeding sites, and rivers. I have had some preliminary discussions with Fish & Game, DOC, and Dr Mike Hickford on such an approach. A work in progress.

The Department of Conservation has undertaken some outstanding work on cleanup and restoration, but it only the tip of the iceberg. Broader community involvement and a focused joint venture approach, is necessary if we are to turn around the current trend.

A submission was presented to the Regional Council seeking change in their description of  whitebait stands. There is significant differences in the Councils description, and the description in the Regulations. This has led to confusion, and some conflict between stand holders and other fishermen. Both need to be the same.




I believe the single greatest threat to whitebait stock is the deterioration of breeding sites, and water quality. More and more restrictive fishing practices will not on its own address the shrinking supply. I want to promote a greater emphasis on restoration of breeding grounds as our major policy direction.

Finally a word on safety. Another season, another drowning. Whitebaiter’s safety record is frankly appalling. Whitebaiters are a diverse group appearing from all walks of life for the seasons activity. A difficult group to communicate with.  A way must be found, if we are to prevent the reoccurrence of the experience of last season. Education is the key. 

There is a need to produce and promote a booklet on safe fishing practices, and distribute it along with tide charts etc. We need to promote safe practices, highlight dangers of  river mouths, fishing in the surf, remote locations etc. I want to seek sources of funding, and work with other parties to make this happen. More in the “to be done basket”.

Our Vice President and Haast Branch President, Charlie Bolton, has announced his resignation, along his wife Carol. Both Charlie and Carol have been the backbone of the Haast Branch, and dedicated activists in the Association for many years. They are moving on to new ventures. I wish them well, and thank them for their valuable contribution to our organization.  

Finally a word of thanks to Angelia, our secretary, without her dedication we would struggle to function at all.

This concludes my report:

Des McEnaney





 

Media Release 
from
CHRIS AUCHINVOLE
National Member of Parliament for West Coast-Tasman
027 438 0662


West Coast Whitebaiters survey released

Chris Auchinvole, MP for West Coast-Tasman, today released results from his survey on the West Coast whitebait fishery.  The survey was supported and distributed by the West Coast Whitebaiters Association.   The survey follows on from Minister of Conservation Hon Kate Wilkinson’s meeting with the industry in 2009.

“The survey gives a snapshot in time of the whitebait fishery coast-wide, and clearly shows a diversity of opinion on a number of issues. I received 232 responses. Over 55% of respondents live on the West Coast and over 52% of respondents are fishing Westland rivers, with a good response also from Buller whitebaiters,” says Chris Auchinvole. “Over 80% described themselves as recreational fishermen. “

President of the West Coast Whitebaiters Association Des McEnaney said responses had been received from about 10% of people fishing during the past season. “This is sufficient to give us a good snapshot of practices and views across the fishery. I would like to thank all those who helped us distribute over a thousand forms during the season, and all those who took the time to respond.”

Fifty-one percent of respondents are happy with the current whitebaiting regulations. Fourty-four thought all adult whitebaiters should be licensed, and 83% thought there should be a minimum distance between whitebaiters.

Seventy percent of recreational whitebaiters use traps/compartments in their nets and 92% of commercial whitebaiters use traps/compartments in their nets.  Twenty nine percent of respondents thought traps/compartments should be allowed in all nets, twenty eight percent thought traps/compartments should be banned in all nets, and forty one percent thought traps/compartments should be allowed in nets in some circumstances.

Forty eight percent of respondents thought sock nets should be allowed, fifty one percent thought they should be not be allowed.

Seventy percent of whitebaiters surveyed thought the whitebaiting rules should not vary to allow for fishing conditions/customs in different parts of the West Coast region.

Forty percent of whitebaiters surveyed thought DOC should continue to police the fishery, while 35% thought the Ministry of Fisheries should take over policing.