Heatly hints at increased snapper limits

Minister's snapper catch limit indication may be unsustainable, writes Karina Cooper of The Whangarei Report.
Increased snapper catch limits was a substantial change to inshore fishing regulations hinted at by Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Phil Heatley.
While no decisions had been made, recreational fishers are alarmed by the ideas Mr Heatley expressed.
But commercial fishermen believe more information is needed before they can respond.
Speaking at last month's Seafood Industry Council conference Mr Heatley told commercial fisheries representatives if he remained fisheries minister after the election he wanted fisheries officials to switch focus from deep-sea fishing regulation and aquaculture legislation to inshore fisheries.
"The focus generally is to raise the importance of inshore fisheries to NZ recreational and commercial fishers, how inshore fisheries operate and how they are managed," Mr Heatley said.
He signalled commercial limits for snapper in regions known as Snapper 1 and Snapper 8 could be raised "quite substantially".
Snapper 1 and Snapper 8 ranges from the Makara Coast west of Wellington, the complete west coast, Northland, and to the east of the Bay of Plenty.
However, Tutukaka charter boat operator and Whangarei Deep Sea Anglers Club committee member Pete Saul said from a "purely personal point of view" he doesn't believe there is any scope to increase catches.
"People are talking about it - they're alarmed to have increased commercial fishing pressure inshore.
"The main fisheries up here were quite well exploited some time ago and some are still recovering - especially in snapper.
"I would hate to see that ruined by increased commercial snapper limits."
Snapper 1 is the largest snapper fishery with a current total allowable commercial catch (TACC) of 4500 tonnes out of the total snapper TACC for all areas combined of 6494 tonnes.
According to the Ministry of Fisheries website species like snapper, scallop and rock lobster were being overfished in the 1970s.
To combat "too many boats chasing too few fish" the ministry introduced the Quota Management System.
But Mr Heatley said changes to catch limits would only occur if scientific information suggested the changes were sustainable for the snapper population.
New research information on the status of Snapper 1 will be completed this year. Research for Snapper 8 is scheduled for 2015.
*  What do you think? Text 021 516 072