Critics' campaign misleading, says DoC

By ANNE BESTON environment reporter

The Department of Conservation has hit back at opponents of its marine reserve plan, accusing them of misleading their supporters.

DoC said almost two-thirds of the feedback it had received on the proposed Great Barrier Island marine reserve was in favour of the plan.

Full-page ads placed in the Herald at the weekend by the lobby group Option4, accusing DoC of unfair tactics in building support for the reserve, were blatantly misleading, said DoC Auckland conservator Rob McCallum.

"The department has been in touch with 140 different interest groups, including fishing groups like Option4, inviting them to meet and discuss the proposal," he said.

Around 60 per cent of the 200 returned questionnaires supported the reserve, although some islanders wanted to make sure its boundaries would not shut them out of some local fishing areas.

At 52,000ha, the reserve would increase the no-fishing zone of the Hauraki Gulf by four times in one hit.

Mr McCallum said the area of interest put forward for discussion was not a fait accompli and actual boundaries would not be discussed until all submissions were in. Submissions close at the end of this month.

The public would also get another say on the plan once it went through the formal process and that was at least a year away.

Emotions are running high within the tiny Great Barrier community of around 1000 permanent residents.

Tryphena resident Garth Dalton said meetings held on the island to discuss the proposal were overwhelmingly hostile.

"Everyone hates DoC over here. They own two-thirds of the island and poke their noses in everywhere."

Charter fishing boat operator Brett Rathe, based in Warkworth, said DoC's assertion that fish stocks were declining in the area being considered for the reserve were wrong.

"The fishing is excellent. It gets better and better every year," he said. "DoC has done no research on fish stocks up there, they don't know."

Port Fitzroy resident and Great Barrier Island Community Board member Tony Bouzaid said he did not expect the controversy to boil over into serious rifts within the community.

Reserve plan

A 52,000ha reserve has been proposed off the northeast of Great Barrier Island.

It would boost the no-fishing zone of the Hauraki Gulf four times.

It would be the first reserve to extend to the 12-mile limit.

DoC says most feedback has been positive.