Tauranga's recreational fishers are willing to go the extra mile to preserve snapper as long as their conservation efforts are not thwarted by commercial operations.
About 250 people attended a public meeting in Tauranga held by LegaSea, the fundraising and advocacy arm of the NZ Sports Fishing Council, about the snapper management options released for consultation by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).
Applause rang out as LegaSea spokesperson Scott Macindoe told the crowd the organisation was willing to look at ways for recreational fishers to help conserve snapper for future generations but not if commercial fishers were allowed to catch and export more.
"This is not about sustainability. This is about sovereignty. This is about who owns the fish," he said.
Mount Maunganui man and LegaSea member Adam El-Agez told the gathering the Bay of Plenty was the only part of the area in question, which also included East Northland and the Hauraki Gulf, where the fishery was in trouble.