b"In the late 1980s Northlandcommunities. A 2016 study by theCurrently, marlin are angling clubs were quick toNew Zealand Marine Research raise serious concerns aboutFoundation estimated more thancaught as bycatch in the the impact that fishing pressure$660 million a year in direct marine- commercial tuna longline from foreign fishing fleets werefishing expenditure by resident having on our marlin fishery. and visiting recreational fishersfishery and by law have to Their concerns led the Minister ofin the upper North Island alone. be released. If a financial Fisheries to ban commercial marlinCoastal towns rely on attracting landings in the Auckland Fisheriesfishers and organising eventsincentive is attached to Management Area. But there wasaround an abundant, non- dead marlin, it's likely a catch. Recreational fishers hadcommercial fishery to help pay the to commit to tagging and releasingbills. Marlin is a major attraction. to incentivise some 50 percent of the marlin catchThe National Fisheries Plancommercial fishersfor research and conservationfor Highly Migratory Species purposes. And that we did. commits Fisheries NZ to The ban later evolved into a formalMaintain and enhance world Memorandum of Understandingclass game fisheries in the Newtheyre now coming after our between commercial recreationalZealand fisheries waters. Itsmarlin to make a quick buck.representatives. Through genuinetime for officials to uphold theirCurrently, marlin are caught collaboration, all parties agreed end of the bargain instead ofas bycatch in the commercial marlin was to remain a non- succumbing to industry pressures. tuna longline fishery and by law commercial fishery. In 1991,have to be released. If a financial the regulation prohibitingTHE BEGINNING OF THE END? incentive is attached to dead commercial fishers from keepingAs the export price for tunamarlin, it's likely to incentivise and selling marlin was born. continues to decline, the pressuresome commercial fishers to shift Today, marlin fishing generatesfrom industry to recuperate thesebehaviours to target and increase significant income for small coastalcosts grows. So, its no surprisecatches of these species.A 2016 study estimated more than $660 million is spent a year in direct marine-fishing expenditure by resident and visiting recreational fishers in the upper North Island. /FISHINGINGODZONE47"