Time is running out for local fishermen battling to save their industry in the face of plans to extend the no-go zone for set nets off the Taranaki coast, in New Zealand.

A public meeting in New Plymouth on Friday aims to drum up support to confront the Department of Conservation and Ministry of Fisheries head-on over the issue.

Locals say the proposed rules have the potential to cripple their industry. They claim the two agencies “are out of touch and to extend the zone from seven to 20km is excessive and unnecessary”.

They have only until October 24 to put together a submission opposing the changes and hope Friday's meeting will add weight to their call for more time.

Aimed at protecting the endangered Maui dolphin, the options on the table include extending the ban from Dargaville to Cape Egmont (currently Dargaville to Tongaporutu) and pushing it seawards an extra eight nautical miles (14.8km).

But that would ruin the local industry and could lead to the loss of 100 jobs, fishing liaison committee chairman Keith Mawson, New Plymouth, said.

The price and availability of fresh fish for Taranaki consumers could also be seriously threatened.

He claims there has been poor consultation over the issue and too little time for submissions.

”What DOC and MFish are proposing will absolutely ruin the local fishery for commercial operators, recreational fishermen and local iwi.”

”The lack of social and economic impact studies on the plan and the lack of any reliable research to support assumptions have upset commercial, recreational and Maori fishers.”

About 60% of all fish caught in Taranaki came from within four miles of the coast, so to ban set net fishing out to 12 miles was excessive.

Mr. Mawson said everyone supported existing restrictions, but the proposed expansion would have serious economic impact for little or no conservation gain. “No one wants to see any species put at risk, but the fact is DOC and MFish are completely out of touch. They are trying to close an area where there have been no confirmed sightings of Maui dolphins.”

The proposed expansion was frustrating because of the way DOC and MFish had developed it, he said.

”There has been no meaningful consultation with Maori or the recreational sector, even though there could be significant impacts on their ability to fish. We are in a position to help these guys gather more information about the dolphins, report sightings and behavior and so on.”

Comments in the plan showed MFish and DOC actually knew very little about the dolphins, Mr. Mawson said.

”They actually don’t know whether the population is increasing or decreasing. Yet this extension and other measures in the plan would effectively close down the Taranaki commercial fishing industry.”

”There is in excess of 100 people employed in the wider industry in New Plymouth, so there are a lot of people who will be affected by the changes.”

The committee has sought a time extension from the Minister of Fisheries.

”Giving us fewer than six weeks to provide information that could take six months to gather and not even bothering to respond to us is a hijack.”

”While MFish has engaged a research company to prepare an economic and social impact report, they've told us their study will not be completed until after submission date closes and that there will be no opportunity to comment on it. They seem hell-bent on making a decision prior to Christmas.”

Source: New Zealand Press