Agenda of Hauraki Gulf Forum

I hereby give notice that an ordinary meeting of the Hauraki Gulf Forum will be held on:

Date:

Time:

Meeting Room:

Venue:

Monday, 8 December 2014

1.00pm

Reception Lounge
Auckland Town Hall
301-305 Queen Street
Auckland

Hauraki Gulf Forum

OPEN AGENDA

MEMBERSHIP


Chairperson	Mayor John Tregidga	Hauraki District Council
Deputy Chairperson	Ms Liane Ngamane	Tangata Whenua
Cr Peter French	Thames-Coromandel District Council	Cr Wayne Walker	Auckland Council
Cr Rob McGuire	Waikato District Council	Ms Meg Poutasi	Department of Conservation
Cr James Thomas	Matamata-Piako District Council	Ms Moana Tamaariki-Pohe	Tangata Whenua
Cr Peter Buckley	Waikato Regional Council	Mr Terrence Hohneck	Tangata Whenua
Mr Jeff Cleave	Great Barrier Local Board (Auckland Council)	Mr Steve Halley	Ministry for Primary Industries
Mr John Meeuwsen	Waiheke Local Board (Auckland Council)	Mr Paul Majurey	Tangata Whenua
Cr Christine Fletcher	Auckland Council	Ms Nicola MacDonald	Tangata Whenua
Cr Michael Lee	Auckland Council	Ms Pauline Kingi	Te Puni Kōkiri
Cr Bill Cashmore	Auckland Council	Ms Lucy Steel	Tangata Whenua
Cr Chris Darby	Auckland Council

Auckland Council is the administering authority for the Hauraki Gulf Forum.

(Quorum 11 members)

Louis Dalzell

Democracy Advisor

1 December 2014

Contact Telephone: (09) 373 6211

Email: louis.dalzell@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Website: www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Hauraki Gulf Forum

08 December 2014

Southern Seabirds Solutions Trust

File No.: CP2014/28200

Purpose

1. To introduce the work of the Southern Seabirds Solutions Trust and explore opportunities for future cooperation to meet mutual goals.

Executive Summary

2. Southern Seabirds Solutions Trust is a partnership between government (Ministry for Primary Industries and Department of Conservation), the commercial and recreational fishing sectors, Te Ohu Kaimoana and WWF-NZ. The Trust works with professional skippers and recreational anglers to reduce harm to seabirds. It has recently focussed attention to the Hauraki Gulf endemic black petrel and other species whose situation has been highlighted in recent research reports and reflected in the forum’s advocacy products.

Recommendations

That the Hauraki Gulf Forum:

a) note the pledge to protect black petrels through seabird smart fishing

b) thank Southern Seabird Solutions Trust Convener Janice Molloy for her presentation.

Discussion

3. The Forum has drawn attention to the importance of, and threats to, the seabirds of the Hauraki Gulf in its marine park poster series and the publication in 2013 of Seabirds of the Hauraki Gulf: Natural History, Research and Conservation.

4. Last month Chairman John Tregidga signed a new pledge developed by the Trust that describes actions signatories will take to foster seabird safe fishing practices in the FMA1 region (Cape Reinga to East Cape).

5. The Forum has worked alongside Southern Seabird Solutions Trust: providing funding for a Black Petrels and Fishers DVD – see http://southernseabirds.org/resources/sharing-the-hauraki-gulf-fishers-and-black-petrel-dvd/; involving the Trust’s seabird advocate Cam Speedy in the 2013 marine park seminar; hosting an inter-agency workshop to raise awareness and share ideas about seabirds and recreational fishing in November 2013; and encouraging support for the Trust’s soon-to-be-launched seabird smart recreational fishing campaign through the Auckland Council Environmental Initiatives Fund.

6. At this year’s marine park seminar the work of the trust was reflected in the presentation of the Holdaway Award to longliner skipper Adam Clow.

7. In resolutions associated with the State of our Gulf 2014 report at its last meeting the Forum sought exploration of new tools and frameworks for addressing issues, and for reconciling and realising economic, environmental and cultural goals.

8. Southern Seabird Solutions Trust has been using collaborative processes to encourage new fishing practices that protect seabirds.

9. Convener Janice Molloy will describe the work and experiences of the Trust in this area.

Consideration

Local Board Views and Implications

10. The work of the trust may be of interest to several of the coastal and island local boards.

Maori Impact Statement

11. Maori fishing interests are included within the collaborating parties working with Southern Seabird Solutions Trust.

General

12. The Trust’s objectives and methods align with the stated interests of the forum.

Implementation Issues

13. It anticipated work between the forum and trust will continue.

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a View	Black Petrel Working Group	11
b View	Media Release Black Petrel	13
c View	Southern Seabirds Solutions-Profile 2014	15

Signatories

Authors

Tim Higham, Hauraki Gulf Forum Executive Officer

Janice Molloy, Convener, Southern Seabird Solutions Trust

Authorisers

Harvey Brookes, Acting GM, Auckland Plan Strategy and Policy

Hauraki Gulf Forum

08 December 2014

Marine Futures project

File No.: CP2014/28220

Purpose

1. To give a briefing on the recently completed Marine Futures research programme.

Executive Summary

2. The recently completed Marine Futures project is a publically-funded, inter-disciplinary research programme with a specific case study focus on the Hauraki Gulf. It is expected to be relevant to the forum’s stated interests in new tools and frameworks for effective and integrated management.

Recommendation

That the Hauraki Gulf Forum:

a) thank Professors Thrush and Le Heron for their presentation.

Discussion

3. The recently completed Marine Futures project is a publically-funded, inter-disciplinary research programme with a specific case study focus on the Hauraki Gulf.

4. Learnings from the project are expected to be relevant to the forum’s resolutions made in response to the State of our Gulf 2014 report, particularly expressions of concern at the continuing gap between current and desired states; acknowledgement of the need for focus and further action in priority areas; and the exploration of new tools and frameworks to realise and reconcile environmental, economic, social and cultural goals.

5. Outputs from the project were anticipated in a supporting letter for the research proposal prepared in 2012 (attachment A). The forum Executive Officer and representatives from forum agencies have contributed to two workshops held during the research programme.

6. Professor Simon Thrush and Professor Richard Le Heron will outline insights from the work.

7. Professor Thrush was recently appointed Director of University of Auckland’s Institute of Marine Sciences, which includes responsibilities for the Leigh Marine Laboratory.

8. Professor Le Heron is a human geographer in the School of Environment at University of Auckland with wide research interests in economic geography, agri-food issues and nature-society relations.

9. A fact sheet on the project is appended as Attachment B.

Consideration

Local Board Views and Implications

10. Findings from the project may be of interest to local boards.

Maori Impact Statement

11. Establishing processes to engage with Maori and documenting the research process are identified as aspects of the project.

General

12. The research has been identified as relevant to the interests of the forum.

Implementation Issues

13. The applicability of the research findings is not yet known.

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a View	Marine Futures Supporting Letter	35
b View	Marine Futures Fact Sheet	37

Signatories

Authors	Tim Higham, Hauraki Gulf Forum Executive Officer
Authorisers	Harvey Brookes, Acting GM, Auckland Plan Strategy and Policy

Hauraki Gulf Forum

08 December 2014

Hauraki Gulf Forum Executive Officer’s Report

File No.: CP2014/28239

Purpose

1. To provide a quarterly update from the Hauraki Gulf Forum’s Executive Officer.

Executive Summary

2. This report is prepared by Hauraki Gulf Forum Executive Officer to update forum members on the delivery of the annual work plan, follow up actions from previous meetings, delivery of statutory requirements, and other matters of relevance since the last meeting.

Recommendation

That the Hauraki Gulf Forum:

a) receive the Hauraki Gulf Forum Executive Officer’s report.

Discussion

Technical Officers Group

3. A meeting of the Technical Officers Group was hosted on 13 November to plan the agenda for this meeting. Several new tangata whenua officers are in the process of being appointed.

State of our Gulf report 2014

4. A well-attended press briefing on the State of our Gulf 2014 report was held following its approval by the forum, resulting in widespread media coverage. See for example

http://www.3news.co.nz/nznews/hauraki-gulf-marine-life-in-decline--report-2014092917#ixzz3EjzZGjMj.

5. I append Rod Oram’s Sunday Star Times column for information (Attachment A).

6. The report was the focus of the Sea Change – Tai Timu Tai Pari Stakeholder Working Group meeting on September 30 and the marine park seminar on October 20.

7. The final report was printed and has been circulated widely among key stakeholders, including ministers, political leaders and chief executives. Members should all have received copies last month. Further copies are available.

8. It has also been posted in a web-friendly format.

Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Seminar

9. The Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Seminar was hosted on 20 October. Tickets for the 200-seat auditorium sold out several days before the day. A highlights video has been produced and will be shown at the Forum meeting.

10. Proceedings have been posted on

http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/AboutCouncil/representativesbodies/haurakigulfforum/Pages/2012HaurakiGulfMarineParkSeminar.aspx

2014 Holdaway Award

11. The Holdaway Award was presented to Adam Clow, a 28 year old, third generation fisherman for his advocacy for seabird safe fishing.

12. A press release is appended (Attachment B), which has received wide coverage within the fishing industry, environment community and regional media.

Sea Change Tai Timu Tai Pari project

13. I continue to contribute to the Project Board, which manages agency support for the process, and track progress through Stakeholder Working Group and Project Steering Group meetings.

14. Stakeholder Working Group (SWG) Independent Chair Nick Main will give an update to the meeting.

15. The project will complete its issue refinement, options identification and assessment phase in December.

16. Milestones from the last quarter include:

· The SWG has met each month - September - Ecoquest: focussed on HGF ‘State of our Gulf’ report; October - Umupuia Marae: focussed on Mātauranga Māori; November - Rotoroa Island: focussed on Marine Protected Areas.

· Analytical work with broad representative groups has been undertaken in 5 or 6 meetings of the roundtables on: Water Quality and Catchments, Fish Stocks, Aquaculture, Biodiversity and Biosecurity, Infrastructure for the Gulf, and Accessible Gulf. A Mātauranga Māori roundtable has been established.

· Project outreach has been driven through “Hauraki 100” report back meetings in Auckland and Thames, presentations to interest groups, facilitation of local media coverage and on line communities, and surveys on roundtable issues.

17. Over the next three months:

· RoundTables will have completed their work of: establishing the fact base, assimilating community and stakeholder input, issue identification and prioritization, option identification and assessment.

· The SWG will be working to: bring these elements together, look for common threads and themes, collaboratively agree an option set, and develop the components of the Marine Spatial Plan.

· The support team will: reduce the effort on science input while responding to requests for clarification, assist in obtaining stakeholder feedback, help the SWG start to draft the MSP.

· The Project Steering Group met at Matai Whetū Marae near Thames on November 28.

· Useful context for the project, its precedents, and the challenges associated with marine management are contained in the feature story in the Nov-Dec issue of New Zealand Geographic magazine. A copy of the magazine has been circulated with your agenda.

Whale and ship strike

18. The sixth meeting of a collaborative group to reduce whale strike was convened on 20 September. Reports on monitoring of ship speed were reviewed. Small reductions in average speed were observed in the first monitoring period since the transit protocol was introduced in September 2013, but averages remain well above internationally recognized safe speeds. Results from a second transit monitoring period and communications strategies to improve uptake will be considered at a meeting in February.

Seabird by catch

19. A collaborative group to protect seabirds convened on October 30-31. It staged a public event at Leigh to enable representatives of fishing companies and interests and environmental NGOs, and the Chair of the Forum, to sign a pledge to protect seabirds from fishing practices. See earlier agenda paper.

2015 Hauraki Gulf Marine Park poster series

20. Sponsorship and production arrangements are in place to enable publication in the New Zealand Herald in late February on the theme of “Past, Present, Future”, drawing on the State of our Gulf assessments and other initiatives of the forum. Concepts are appended (Attachment C).

Weaving the Strands

21. The newsletter is in preparation and should be available at the meeting.

Administrative matters

22. I have recently relocated to the Auckland Council headquarters building at 135 Albert Street. Following a review of the council’s Chief Planning Office, I am now located within the Auckland Plan Strategy and Policy department, on the 22nd floor.

23. Invoices for agency contributions to the approved 2014-15 budget have been recently sent out.

Consideration

Local Board Views and Implications

24. Delivery of the work plan and identification of issues is informed by a local board officer on the Technical Officers Group.

Maori Impact Statement

25. Delivery of the work plan and identification of issues is informed by the tangata whenua technical officers as per the governance arrangements of the Forum.

General

26. Receipt of the report aids accountability for the delivery of the annual work plan and other duties between the Forum and the Forum Manager.

Implementation Issues

27. Progress in these areas will be discussed with the Technical Officers Group and reported back to future Forum meetings.

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a View	High Hopes for the Hauraki Gulf	43
b View	Holdaway Award Media Release	47
c View	Poster Concepts	51

Signatories

Authors	Tim Higham, Hauraki Gulf Forum Executive Officer
Authorisers	Harvey Brookes, Acting GM, Auckland Plan Strategy and Policy

Hauraki Gulf Forum

08 December 2014

Constituent Party Report

File No.: CP2014/28255

Purpose

1. This report describes recent activities undertaken by forum constituent parties which address the strategic issues of the forum. This report is a regular means of meeting the forum’s purpose of facilitating communication, co-operation and co-ordination among its members

Executive Summary

2. This report describes recent activities undertaken by forum constituent parties which address integrated management and prioritised, strategic issues. This report is a regular means of meeting the forum’s purpose of facilitating communication, co-operation and co-ordination among its members.

3. The strategic issues framework adopted by the forum for focus and action identified the following management response areas:

· Regenerating green and blue areas

· Enhanced fisheries

· Mana whenua integration

· Active land management to address nutrient, sediment and contaminant pollution

· Knowledge generation within an integrated eco-system management approach

Recommendation

That the Hauraki Gulf Forum:

a) receive the Constituent Party Report.

Discussion

Auckland Council

Regenerating green and blue areas, enhanced fisheries

Regional and Specialist Parks

4. Ten critically endangered takahē„ were moved from Fiordland to a predator free open sanctuary, in Tawharanui Regional Park in October as part of the programme to ensure the survival of this rare native bird.

5. Seasonal bans on set-netting are being contemplated at Te Haruhi and Army Bay’s adjacent to Shakespear Regional Park for public safety reasons in terms of the recently approved Public Safety and Nuisance Bylaw.

6. Consultation with mana whenua is being undertaken on the proposed heritage management plan for the Heritage Protection Zone adjacent to Long Bay Regional Park.

7. Public consultation on the proposed redevelopment of the foreshore areas at Sullivan’s Bay, Mahurangi Regional Park, will commence soon. The proposals will create specific areas for self-contained campervans and improve the provision for day visitors on the foreshore of the bay.

Local Boards (Waiheke and Great Barrier Islands)

Waiheke Island

8. The Waiheke Local Board Plan contains a number of outcomes and initiatives focused on preserving its natural environment for future generations. The board’s “Treasured Islands, Coastlines, Wetlands and Marine” outcome includes initiatives to protect and maintain our islands, land, coastline, wetland and marine environments. Initiatives such as fostering partnerships with volunteer groups and promoting best practice for environmental management will assist in achieving this outcome.

9. The board will also be advocating for a network of marine protected areas that link our islands to help retain and enhance biodiversity. A questionnaire survey of the island’s residents is planned for the new year.

10. The board will be undertaking stream remediation and ecological restoration work in a number of catchments. There is a particular focus on supporting a community-based approach to remedial work in the Little Oneroa Stream catchment, led by the Waiheke Resources Trust, and adopting a ‘chemical free’ approach as far as possible to wetland restoration work. To minimise the effects of sedimentation and pollution in our bays, the board will be seeking stormwater management in accordance with water sensitive design principles across the whole island.

11. Environmental education is a priority including marine education and research programmes. Development of management plans for esplanade reserves is another project which will assist in their aspiration to improve protection and conservation of our coastal environment.

12. The local board has also been making representations to the Unitary Plan Committee and Independent Hearings Panel in support of increased protection and restoration of the island’s coastal environment and landscapes.

Great Barrier Island

13. The Great Barrier Local Board is continuing to investigate a range of initiatives supporting the Aotea Great Barrier Local Board Plan vision that the island will be THE place in Auckland where the environment is at its best. Key to this is funding and the draft Auckland Council 10 year plan gives the board a good level of funding to enable it to advance some of these. It has provisionally allocated funds to continue with its marine protection initiative although decisions on this await more clarity on the outcomes of Sea Change Tai Timu Tai Pari.

14. The board has allocated funds to begin conversations in the new year with its community on the island’s future ecology which has been a divisive matter in the community in the past. A sustainability survey will also enable the board to obtain a better idea of how people live, particularly in relation to power, water and waste water.

Operations and Asset Management

Environmental Services Unit

Catchment Management and Incentives

Regenerating green and blue areas

15. Concerted land management advice being provided in the Whangateau and Mahurangi catchments of the Hauraki Gulf with the aim of reducing sediment and, to a lesser extent, nutrient loads into the gulf. Includes a grants fund (the Waterway Protection Fund) to support riparian protection.

16. Working with Great Barrier and Waiheke Local Boards to improve management of on-site wastewater systems (septic tanks).

17. Celebrated 10 years of the Mahurangi Action Plan with a community event

18. Completed the Mahurangi Catchment Erosion and Sediment Control Plan

19. Drafted restoration staging plans for Te Whau Esplanade Reserve, Whangateau Pedestrian Bridge Reserve, Rahui te Kapa Reserve (Omaha), Point Wells Esplanade Reserve, and plan to commence works January 2015.

20. Involvement as observers on the Watercare community consultative group for the Omaha Wastewater Treatment Plant resource consent process.

21. Allocation of Waterway Protection Fund (fencing, planting, alternative water supply) grants in the Mahurangi and Whangateau.

Waikato Regional Council

Policy and Plan Development, Regulation and Compliance

Hauraki Gulf Forum Strategic Issue

Tairua Marina

22. There are ongoing compliance issues and the parties are working hard to get these resolved. It is likely that this will result in realignment in the stormwater outfalls. The Guardians retain concerns about the design of the outer sheet pile wall, however the issue is not straightforward due to the wording of the conditions.

Moorings

23. WRC is over half way through reconsenting approximately 700 moorings in the Coromandel harbours. The process has met with considerable disdain in some sectors of some communities and as a result WRC is looking at alternative ways to manage moorings in the region. A number of options have been scoped and the preferred option of management of moorings through the Navigation Safety Bylaw rather than by an individual consent basis. Council approved this in September so work is currently going ahead in developing an alternative management arrangement. We anticipate that a consent application seeking approval for the new regime will be lodged early in the new year.

Cook’s Beach Subdivision

24. TCDC and WRC jointly processing an application from Longreach Developments who propose to develop a 22 hectare subdivision at Cook’s Beach. Coastal inundation is a key concern for both Councils as well as the ecological value of the local stream and wetland.

Seawall consent applications

25. WRC and TCDC are undertaking a joint consent process for a seawall extending the entire length of Brophy’s (Ohuka) Beach (550 m in length). The applicant is TCDC. The WRC application was publicly notified and all submissions resolved to avoid a hearing. The application is presently on hold to get an independent review of the appropriateness of the design for the site and we anticipate the decision to be made by an independent commissioner will be released by Christmas.

26. TCDC has lodged an application with WRC for a 240 m extension to a ~540 m wall at southern Buffalo Beach. Cumulative effects are a key consideration as the application will result in a 44% increase in the extent of wall. A notification decision is yet to be determined.

27. TCDC proposes to construct a 150 m extension to the seawall at Cook’s Beach – the wall is located above mean high water springs so the regional council is processing earthworks and machinery use in the CMA on a non-notified basis.

Mussel farm bonds

28. In accordance with consent requirements all consent holders holding authorisations for marine farms which were previously administered by the Ministry of Fisheries have recently been requested to provide a bond for security in case of farm abandonment. The deadline to provide the bond has been extended as a consent application has been received from the Coromandel Marine Farmers Association to either cancel or amend the consent conditions relating to the requirement of a bond. The application is expected to be heard by an independent commissioner at the end of January 2015. The outcome is likely to set a precedent for marine farm bond requirements throughout the region.

Powerco Ltd

29. Powerco Ltd (Powerco) has applied for resource consents for the purpose of gaining access to their electricity distribution assets on the Coromandel Peninsula for maintenance. Access will be required for vegetated and non-vegetated locations in the coastal marine area (CMA) and wetlands above mean high water springs (MHWS). The application also seeks to authorise the discharge of herbicides for mitigation weed spraying at access locations. A decision on the application is imminent.

Western Firth of Thames Spat Catching Applications

30. In 2000 and 2001 applications were made to Auckland Regional Council for spat catching in the Western Firth of Thames. The Western Firth Marine Farming Consortium (Consortium) acts on behalf of all of the applications. Following boundary changes between the Auckland and Waikato regions nine spat catching applications encompassing an area of approximately 2300 hectares are now located within the Waikato region. A government moratorium placed the applications on hold until 31 December 2014. The Consortium has request that WRC further extends the timeframe for processing the applications as of 1 January 2015, which WRC agreed to. While the applications are for spat catching, the consortium would like to undertake marine farming and the further time extension will enable the consortium to look into options to change the current planning frameworks which currently prohibits marine farming other than spat catching in this area.

31. Other pending applications

- Flood mitigation works in Graham’s Stream, Tairua

- Stormwater outfalls along Manaia Beach, Tairua

- Kaiaua to Kopu cycle track

- Protection of Kaiaua landfill

Investigations and Monitoring

Knowledge generation within an ecosystem based framework

Regional Estuary Monitoring Programme (REMP) 10 year trend report

32. Waikato Regional Council’s Regional Estuary Monitoring Programme (REMP) was initiated in April 2001 to determine the current status and monitor the temporal changes in the state of selected estuaries (Raglan Harbour, southern Firth of Thames, Tairua Harbour (since 2012) in the region. A trend report of the first 10 years of monitoring data (April 2001 to April 2011) has been published (http://www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/tr201441). It provides analyses of trends over this period of time and investigates pattern and features in results that indicate the ecological health of the monitored estuaries. Our Regional Estuary Monitoring Programme (REMP) has its own website:

http://www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/REMP

Firth of Thames water quality and ecosystem health report

33. Together with Dairy NZ, WRC is funding NIWA to produce a report summarising existing information on water quality and ecosystem health of the Firth of Thames. Specific issues to be addressed are sediment loading, nutrient loading and bioavailability, phytoplankton dynamics, dissolved oxygen dynamics and pH. Draft reports are currently being reviewed and the final report will be released early 2014 to the SeaChange stakeholder working groups and the public.

Constituent party name: Ministry for Primary Industries

Hauraki Gulf Forum Strategic Issue

Update on the implementation of the NPOA-Seabirds

Regenerating green and blue areas

34. Implementation of actions of the 2013 NPOA- Seabirds has been ongoing. There has been significant progress in a number of key areas relevant to the Hauraki Gulf, including:

· The 2014-15 seabird liaison officers contract was finalised in early October. Good progress has been made contacting the primary target vessels within the bluenose long line fleet in FMA 1. A number of these vessels now have draft seabird management plans (SMPs) in place. These will be refined based on follow up contacts and observer coverage over the summer period. Initial feedback highlights that all vessels who have been contacted have been approachable and amenable to the project. Officers will continue to contact FMA 1 snapper and bluenose long line vessels over the coming five months with the aim of having SMPs in place for the vast majority of these vessels by the time the contract ends. The project has also been extended to include contact with surface long line vessels where they are operating in FMA 1.

· The FMA 1 Collaborative Group, now named “Black Petrel Working Group”, has established terms of reference, targets and milestones. This includes a list of actions to achieve targets. The group launched their black petrel campaign with a media event on 30 October welcoming the return of the black petrel to the Hauraki Gulf. The event included a pledge that was signed by a wide range of stakeholders formalising their commitment to the protection and restoration of the species. The group will continue to meet regularly and work to implement the actions that have been set.

· A draft species specific action plan has been produced for black petrels and fleshfooted shearwaters. This plan is designed to address cumulative effects across fisheries and will act as a pilot for the development of further plans for those species categorised in the seabird risk assessment as very high risk.

· MPI has continued to provide support for the Southern Seabird Solutions Trust (SSST). In particular MPI will be looking at ways to assist the recreational engagement campaign that will be carried out over the next two years.

· The next meeting of the Seabird Advisory Group is on 11 December 2014. This meeting will review progress against the actions that have been set.

Enhanced fisheries

35. The Ministry for Primary Industries has an ongoing programme of research and monitoring to track fisheries performance and assess the need to review and adjust management settings. For the fishstocks subjected to the highest fishing pressure and levels of demand, management is based on achieving desired stock biomass levels and setting sustainable catch levels accordingly. Scientific stock assessments are undertaken to estimate biomass and sustainable catch levels. These assessments are based on the ongoing gathering of data with scientific reviews of progress throughout key stages. New stock assessments are scheduled to become available in 2015 for kahawai and trevally stocks that include the Hauraki Gulf (KAH1 and TRE1). These results are expected to help to inform decisions on whether a review of the management settings is required. Further updates will be provided in 2015.

Snapper (SNA1)

36. SNA1 is an example of a stock where action was undertaken following new stock assessment and catch information that became available in 2013.

37. The updated 2013 assessment showed that the biomass of the SNA 1 stock had increased by more than 60% since about 2000. The increased biomass could support a sustainable catch level of 8050 tonnes, slightly higher than the 7550 t limit that had prevailed since the late 1990s. New information about the level of recreational catch of SNA 1 was also available, and showed that recreational catch in 2011-12 had exceeded the previous allowance.

38. In response, the Minister set the new TAC at 8050 t, and increased the allowance for recreational fishing to 3050 t to recognise the increased recreational interests. He also set an allowance of 50 t for customary fishing, and allowed 450 t for snapper inadvertently killed as a result of fishing, but not landed (termed ‘other sources of fishing-related mortality’ in the Fisheries Act). The 2013 assessment showed that the new TAC would support the stock biomass to increase slowly towards the interim target (40% of the unfished biomass) over the coming few years.

39. To support the new measures, the Minister directed that a number of complementary measures be applied. During 2014 MPI has implemented new reporting requirements for commercial fishers, a monitoring programme that has observers currently covering 50% of the SNA1 trawl fleet and changes to the recreational daily bag limit and minimum legal size to help constrain catch within the TAC.

40. The new commercial reporting requirements include reporting snapper below the minimum legal size (that is returned to the sea).This information will be used to better inform the setting of an allowance within the Total Allowable Catch that is set aside to cover other sources of fishing-related mortality. Current information is uncertain and provides only snapshots (e.g 1994 research recently released via an Official Information Act request and available at www.fish.govt.nz ). Since evidence shows that the SNA 1 stock biomass increased under the previous measures, the mortality of juveniles is not considered to be a risk to sustainability. However, any fish left in the sea to grow and recruit to the fishery are of benefit. Avoiding unnecessary mortality and waste is desirable, and the new measures will support this objective.

41. New technology for monitoring fishing activities is also being trialled within the fishery. Cameras were fitted on ten trawl vessels for five months this year to help test the effectiveness of this equipment to both detect illegal activity and verify information about total catch of snapper. The results of the trial are currently being evaluated to inform future planning. This is an important step to ensure the best possible utility from this tool. Technology is developing rapidly and there is potential to integrate position-tracking and catch reporting within systems and this will be considered.

42. Under a Government and industry partnership, innovative trawl technology is also being trialled in SNA 1. This Precision Seafood Harvest project is developing gear to target specific species and fish size, as well as enabling fish to be landed in much better condition, and have higher value, than traditional trawls.

43. The fishery management decisions from the 2013 review were a starting point for further work on a long term management strategy. The SNA1 Strategy Group (which includes commercial, recreational and customary fishers) has met each month throughout the year and is progressing towards a draft strategy in 2015.

Consideration

Local Board Views and Implications

44. No consultation with Local Boards was required for the preparation of this report. Individual items that make up the report will be reported directly to the relevant Local Boards as appropriate.

Maori Impact Statement

45. This is a report for information only. Individual items that make up the report may impact on mana whenua, who would then be consulted as the work programmes are developed.

General

46. This report collates the activities of the Forum’s constituent parties to facilitate communication, co-operation and co-ordination.

Implementation Issues

47. There are no implementation implications arising from the activities detailed in this report.

Attachments

There are no attachments for this report.

Signatories

Authors	Tim Higham, Hauraki Gulf Forum Executive Officer
Authorisers	Harvey Brookes, Acting GM, Auckland Plan Strategy and Policy

Authors	Moana Tamaariki-Pohe, Hauraki Gulf Forum Member
Authorisers	Harvey Brookes, Acting GM, Auckland Plan Strategy and Policy

Authors	Louis Dalzell - Democracy Advisor
Authorisers