The Rural Advocacy Network, has chosen to focus almost exclusively on the Hurunui and Waiau Rivers at the distraction of what is happening in the rest of Canterbury, and this crusade is not facing up to the bigger problems, with statements such as: "Is our freshwater fishery really in crisis?". Fish and Game think the public is smart enough to make their own decision on that one.
In this year's fishing regulations review held during May in Rangiora, which McFadden did attend, the tone of the meeting changed from one of conservation values to recreational use, with much fewer Rakaia and Selwyn anglers than had previously attended.
This meeting was dominated by winter anglers disgruntled with the loss of fishing, with many of the loudest spoken being commercial fishing guides. Despite the pendulum swing, Fish and Game listened to their concerns and decided to allow winter fishing on the lower reaches of the Hurunui and Waiau rivers, but restricted to a "zero catch limit" for the 2017/18 winter season.
In his October 20 article, McFadden implies the Rakaia concerns were founded on one man's opinion, and then uses a single piece of anecdotal evidence himself to suggest the future is bright for our fisheries; should we assume he means "all" Canterbury freshwater fisheries, given the focus of his criticism?.
Perhaps greater scrutiny is required of these claims. The October 20 article states that "farmers want to know what they need to do to fix any water quality problems they are causing", yet the Rural Advocacy Network has criticised Fish and Game for presenting lower intensity farming solutions to the Hurunui Waiau Zone meeting in August. This along with the usual vitriol about Fish and Game's part with the former anti-dairying campaign slogan, ironically extending its legacy.
Fish and Game would like to spend more time on solutions, particularly in light of the change in government and renewed focus on improving our degraded freshwater environments. But we reject the allegations made and suggest McFadden and his associates take a more holistic look at the state of rivers in lowland Canterbury.
Absent from the article is the poor track record of many depleted, polluted and toxin tainted fisheries south of Christchurch and it is creeping north with black algal mats and other environmental pressures appearing more often in rivers like the Hurunui, Ashley, Cust and Waipara.
Fish and Game will not apologise for taking a precautionary approach to protecting our freshwater bodies, including those with reasonable fish populations that some are taking for granted. Environment Canterbury in its 2017 Canterbury Water Management Strategy "Targets Report" has now classified water quality in the Hurunui and Waiau Zone as "at risk", and that should be all the evidence we need.
However, Fish and Game will be responding with a much greater monitoring focus across its Canterbury fisheries going forward. Evidence for this includes our recent joint investment in a real-time nitrogen logger for the Hurunui River.
We are also playing an active part in science investigations and assessing methods for greater observational monitoring of our rivers, lakes and streams; to ensure measured changes going forward in water quality and fishery health are more closely aligned to the collective wisdom most of our anglers know to be true.
Scott Pearson is the Environmental Advisor for North Canterbury Fish and Game.
