KEY POINTS:
As guardians of commercial fishing assets worth an estimated $1 billion and with customary fishing rights enshrined under the Treaty of Waitangi, Maori have a consuming interest in the outcome of the shared fisheries debate.
In May, Minister of Fisheries Jim Anderton was forced to shelve plans to amend the Fisheries Act to allow him to favour conservation over commercial interests when setting catch limits in cases where scientific information on the health of a fishery was lacking. Iwi claimed a 10 per cent cut in commercial quotas could slash $100 million from tribal assets and cost taxpayers up to $1 billion in compensation.
Before any moves to cut commercial quota, Te Ohu Kaimoana (the Maori fisheries trust) wanted the Government to quantify how much is being taken by recreational fishermen. Legal action was contemplated and Maori Labour MPs signalled their opposition.
Maori are 50 per cent owners of the Sealord Group under the 1992 Waitangi Tribunal fisheries ruling and 100 per cent owners of Moana Pacific. Their customary fishing rights are guaranteed under the Treaty of Waitangi, but the vast majority of Maori fish to feed their family, and are legally classed as recreational fishers.
The Hokianga Accord, a forum involving Maori customary fishers and recreational fishers, is one of the few promising developments in the tangled shared fisheries debate. A series of hui have been held in which Maori and Pakeha recreational fishers in mid-Northland discuss everything from local management initiatives to the big fish: shared fisheries, the right to fish and sustainability.
United by the slogan "more fish in the water", the accord has the backing of Ngapuhi chairman Sonny Tau and the support of Ngati Whatua and Ngati Wai, with the involvement of the Big Game Fishing Council and Option4 members. Commercial fishing representatives have attended hui and had the opportunity to speak.
"It's the healthiest debate I've ever seen in any type of forum, where everybody has every right to stand up and put their point of view," says Option4's Trish Rea.
"It's a collaborative model which is working. For so long we've had the brown boys meeting on Tuesday and the white boys meeting on Thursday and never the twain shall meet."
Local or regional initiatives could be a way forward if the Ministry of Fisheries was prepared to decentralise. Says Rea: "Because Maori are into fishing long-term, there's a clear understanding that something needs to be done to improve fisheries for everybody."
But when it comes to balancing non-commercial and commercial fishing interests, there are huge trade-offs at stake for Maori.
"Abundance is the fundamental issue. How Maori can balance their interests is a conundrum they face."
But there are options that can improve abundance and give more sustainability, such as changes in fishing methods to reduce bycatch and unnecessary mortality. "Essentially the whole issue comes down to a lack of fish."
