Kina, a shellfish known around the south as ‘spiky gold’, is still being dredged commercially in the Tory Channel. Recreational fishers and environmental interests are objecting to this archaic practice and are urging the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries to ban all dredging in the Tory Channel from April 2023.
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“It’s as if no lessons have been learned from the failed Marlborough Sounds and Golden Bay scallop fishery where they were dredged into oblivion. It’s unbelievable that dredging for kina in the Tory Channel has increased by over 30 percent in three years, and in areas that are easily able to be dived,” said Tony Orman, acting chairman of Marlborough Recreational Fishers Association.
Fisheries New Zealand has just completed a review of kina dredging in the Tory Channel and the Minister is due to make a final decision by April. The review came as a surprise to many South Islanders who were not aware that dredging was still allowed. Dredging for kina has been banned elsewhere.
“Fisheries New Zealand said their objective for the review was to protect benthic or seafloor communities from adverse effects of dredge gear. But only one of their proposed options meets this objective. The answer is simple, all kina dredging must be banned,” said Neil Wilson of the Mohua Marine Trust.
“We need the Minister to step up and ban kina dredging from Tory Channel. Like our forests, we need to protect our kelp and precious marine life. The new Minister Stuart Nash has a great opportunity to show southerners he’s serious about protecting the environment for the benefit of all South Islanders, ” said Mark Connor of the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council.
LegaSea worked with the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council, the New Zealand Angling & Casting Association, and New Zealand Underwater Association to make a submission in February stating that all kina dredging must stop.
“Dredging and trawling in inshore waters decimates the seafloor and adds to the existing problems we already have with uncontrolled sedimentation. We can’t expect to restore marine biodiversity and shellfish populations if we allow dredging to continue in the Tory Channel. It’s a no-brainer. Stop it. Now,” says Sam Woolford, LegaSea Lead.
Media Release. February 2023.
Dredging goes on in Port Underwood of Sounds for Cloudy Bay clams. The clouds of sand/silt behind the boat reflects the damage. Yet government approved it.
All mobile, bottom contact fishing methods must be banned from any inshore waters that will obviously be a vital source of food security and sovereignty for future generations. It’s only when, not if. Come on people, lets lift our game and start planning for the future. Wholesale pillage to make a fast buck must stop. Archaic thinking that will be shown to be utterly inappropriate in the near future.
Embarrassing to think that this bullshit behaviour is even being contemplated today.
Wake up MPI. Or is too late for that?
The alibi of ignorance has well and truly been stripped away. Shame on any Minister that approves such ludicrous activity.
What is this Mohua Marine Trust? Cannot find it in a web search.
Agree with Scott Macindoe. It’s not only Tory Channel Kina dredging, but in nearby Port Underwood/Cloudy Bay where dredging for Cloudy Bay clams goes on. I have watched from the top of the hill road to Whites Bay and the clouds of silt being ploughed up in shocking.
MPI granted Cloudy Bay clams a quota. Poor management with no awareness of ecosystem.