NEW BOD: Mark Venman is as the regional manager for the Hawke's Bay Fish & Game. PHOTO SUPPLIED
Fish & Game's new Hawke's Bay regional manager Mark Venman says one of the organisation's roles is to improve awareness of New Zealand's "outstanding but threatened" freshwater resources. He chats to Mark Story.
Tell us a bit about your background.
I grew up in Scotland and studied Zoology at Glasgow University before moving to NZ in 2002. I started working for the Taupo Fishery in 2003, undertaking fishery monitoring, research and compliance over a 13 year period. I started with Hawke's Bay Fish & Game in March 2016 as a Senior Fish & Game Officer.
Has the role of Fish & Game changed in recent years from being compliance based to more big picture political stuff?
The major role of Fish & Game is to protect the habitat of sports fish and game birds. We do this by lobbying for appropriate environmental policies, developing and enhance wetlands, providing advice and advocating for clean water and sustainable farming practices. We generally aim to improve awareness of New Zealand's outstanding but threatened freshwater resources. This work also benefits many other native bird and other species that live in these environments. A large amount of staff resources are devoted to protecting fish and game values through RMA processes. The collection of baseline information through population monitoring and research is fundamental to F&G's involvement in these processes.
Recently Fish & Game was accused of being ideologically opposed to farming and irrigation. To you, is this accurate?
Fish & Game's statutory roles are to manage, maintain and enhance sports fish and game. We are not at all anti-farming, rather pro-environmentally sustainable farming. As one small example F&G have just given a South Island dairy farmer a Working with Nature award and applauded his sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. The adverse environmental effects of intensive agriculture are well documented; there are direct and serious impacts on the habitat of sports fish and game birds. Habitat protection is an important part of Fish & Game's statutory responsibilities. Any activity that degrades the quality or extent of habitat poses a direct threat to sports fish and game populations, and we are duty bound to challenge the agencies or specific activities that are to blame. If water storage schemes are to provide for greater agricultural intensification, this shouldn't be at the cost of the natural environment which has already suffered. Fish & Game supports water storage for agriculture use provided that both the direct and indirect freshwater environmental effects are benign.
What are the top three challenges the organisation faces in Hawke's Bay?
The Hawke's Bay region is one of New Zealand's warmest and driest regions. The demand for water in the region for the likes of irrigation is significant but we need to be careful with the draw-off to ensure that enough water is maintained in the rivers to support healthy fish and aquatic life. The success of sports fish and indeed game bird populations is dependent on the quality and quantity of available habitat. About 98 per cent of the wetlands in Hawke's Bay alone have been lost and this has led to the decline of many wetland-dependant species in this region.
The Ngaruroro/Clive Water Conservation Order (WCO) application is currently in a holding pattern awaiting a Special Tribunal. Hopefully this application which would give National Park-type protection to the waterways, makes progress in 2017.
Activities focused on the 'rules and regs' provide satisfaction for licence holders that other users of the resource are paying the same as they are. Ranging operations are aimed at ensuring that regulations are complied with and provide a deterrent to protect Fish & Game's income base. Law enforcement is labour intensive and coverage is required across the entire Hawke's Bay region.
As a keen angler what's your favourite fishing spot?
I find enjoyment exploring what this region has to offer. I have fished for wild browns at Kuripapango, and explored the Ngaruroro, Mohaka, Tutaekuri and Tukituki rivers. I am enjoying the variety of fishing opportunities and being able to fish away from the crowds for some well-conditioned trout.