b'commercial over catch slide forResource fishers to develop newdeveloping a meaningful transition decades. That forgets the peopletechnologies and techniquesplan. The first step is to buy back who actually care about the futurethat catch fish and have aquota at a fair price then reset of our fisheries - because they dontlower environmental impact. with a license (resource rentals) have a fleet or a finance department. based model. Using blue cod as an This fishery shouldve been3. After 40 years the Quotaexample, the fishery is cooked, and managed with care, precision,Management System has failed tothe value of these assets is falling and local input. Instead, itsrebuild fish populations and makefaster than the number of fish.been - as one fisher putcommercial fishing economically it - absolutely munted. successful.We need to: Until that happens, blue cod - the We dont need anothera. Manage coastal fisheriesking of the South - remains a working group or another hollowdifferently from those in deepcautionary tale. And if we dont consultation process. We needwater. They have differentact now, like the moa well be a reset. A management systemstressors and stakeholders. explaining to our kids why there thats built on solid science,are no fish left in their favourite shaped by local knowledge, andb. Remove private property rights.fishing spot, just stories about what focused on the ecosystem, notThese impede the government fromit used to be like back in my day.just economics. We need to:1. Shift the priority fromEditor Matt Hewetson with a big 60cm+ cod caught off Fiordland in 2017, we exporting seafood to rebuildingwant to see such fish for our kids.our coastal fish populations.a. International best practice suggests restoring fish populations to a minimum of 50% of their original biomass. (In New Zealand, that would effectively double the number of fish in our water, increase biodiversity and resilience to adverse events).b. This would make selective harvest techniques more economically viable and meet the expectations of 78% of New Zealanders, who believe fish for local consumption should be prioritised.2. Rebuilding begins by transitioning into more selective low-impact fishing methods.a. Under the Quota Management System (QMS), bottom trawling, dredging, and Danish seining, are legal.b. These fishing methods produce significant waste, they damage the seafloor and the creatures living on/in it, often leaving long-lasting impacts on the marine ecosystem.c. Fishers are inherently innovative./FISHINGINGODZONE43'