A map of the proposed temporary Waimarama ban on the collection of blackfoot pāua. Photo / Supplied
A map of the proposed temporary Waimarama ban on the collection of blackfoot pāua. Photo / Supplied
SUP121120waimaramapaua.JPG A map of the proposed temporary Waimarama ban on the collection of blackfoot pāua. Photo / Supplied
A_HBT18031402.JPG Waimarama resident and Hastings District Councillor Bayden Barber. Photo / File
Gianina Schwanecke Gianina.schwanecke@nzme.co.nz
A temporary two-year ban on harvesting blackfoot pāua from Waimarama has been proposed in a bid tohelp stocks replenish.
Ngāi Hapū o Waimarama has requested a temporary two-year closure to the harvest of blackfoot pāua, to enable the popular kai moana to increase in both size and number.
Hastings District Councillor Bayden Barber, who is also deputy chairman of the Heretaunga Takoto Noa Māori Standing Committee, said it had been a point of concern for local iwi for several years.
"A hui-ā-hapū was called earlier in the year and this was one of the issues discussed and a direction formulated.
"More and more people are fishing our coast, there are more boats so as a result more kaimoana is being fished."
In 2011, about 10,000 pāua seedlings were placed around the coast in an effort to stem the tide.
Waimarama resident and Hastings District Councillor Bayden Barber. Photo / File
"However, it seems our pāua stocks are still struggling against the numbers being taken. The temporary closure will give them a chance to replenish.
"We are of the mind that as kaitiaki for our coast it is our responsibility to ensure that there is enough kaimoana for our tamariki, mokopuna and future generations."
Fellow councillor and Waimarama resident Sophie Siers supported the conservation and management effort.
"The legal size is there to ensure we have enough breeding stock. It's a management stock.
"All that happens if people are taking smaller and smaller is that the stock gets lower and lower."
She said their farm went out to the coast and they had struggled to get pāua of legal size from the beach for many years.
Ngāi Hapū o Waimarama has requested a temporary two-year closure to the harvest of blackfoot pāua from Waimarama. Photo / File
"If people aren't careful and mindful of managing these things, the resources just won't be there.
