b'FeatureMany Kiwi anglers are obsessed with marlin, and this magnificent species has long been part of our coastal identity. Photo Credit: John HoldsworthIts fair to say that a goodorganisations have kept it this way. any attempts to commercialise our Despite the significance ofmarlin and reef fish. More than percentage of Kiwi fishersmarlin to recreational fishers, the22,000 Kiwis including recreational are obsessed with marlin.government has now proposedfishers, some commercial fishers T his magnificent speciesa pathway to commercialiseand people who care, joined us in marlin. The proposal wouldsaying no to commercialisation. has long been part ofallow commercial fishers to keepThere are good reasons to say no, our coastal identity.and sell dead marlin, as well asbecause it would open the door to So much so its hard19 vulnerable reef fish speciesincreased commercial catches.to miss the marlinincluding red moki and boarfish.emblems displayedThe Luxon-led government hasTHE VALUE OF MARLINon logos, T-shirtshanded Oceans and FisheriesNew Zealand is internationally and signs acrossMinister Shane Jones a free passrecognised for some of the biggest Northland, Coromandel, and Bay ofto remove redundant regulationsstriped marlin. Every year, people Plenty. Also, in recent years they areat the request of the commercialtravel from all over the world to tag, being caught in many other regionsindustry. Public interests and therelease or pursue a lifelong dream including off the South Island. health of the marine environmentof landing these extraordinary fish.We are proud that marlin hasare on the backburner. Recent science suggests that remained solely a non-commercialBefore consultation on thesestriped marlin populations are species since the 1990s, belongingproposals closed in late November,low and still considered to be to the people. Decades of hardLegaSea and the New Zealandoverfished, but slowly recovering work from the New Zealand SportSport Fishing Council made afrom heavy industrial fishing Fishing Council and recreationalcomprehensive submission opposingpressure in previous decades.44FISHING IN GODZONE MAGAZINE'