MP wants law revamp to avoid marine battlefield

The process of deciding on areas of marine conservation needs a major revamp, says Conservation Minister Chris Carter.

A bill now languishing in Parliament gives the Minister of Conservation sole power to decide on marine reserves without having to consult the Ministers of Fisheries and Transport, as happens now.

But that bill needed to be re-written, Mr Carter said, because "every proposal becomes a major battle".

He wants working groups set up to propose marine reserve areas, instead of the Department of Conservation leading the charge.

The groups, three of which have already been established, will comprise DoC staff, iwi, commercial and recreational fishers and conservationists.

"It's more sensible to do the negotiation at the beginning," Mr Carter said.

The latest battleground is the Great Barrier Island marine reserve, approved by the minister this week and opposed by recreational fishers and some commercial companies.

At 49,500ha, it dwarfs others close to the mainland and is the first to stretch to the 12-mile limit, something fishers consider a dangerous precedent.

Forest and Bird spokesman David Pattemore said another problem with the Marine Reserves Act 1971 was that the minister had to justify approval of a reserve by detailing how he had taken account of opposition.

That meant "strong support" for reserves was not taken into account.

But Gulf Harbour charter fisherman Damian Clayton said the Barrier reserve would exclude a favoured spot for kingfish and snapper.

"Why it had to take up nearly 50,000ha, I just don't get it."