hmmm…. oh dear.

Kirstie, thanks for disillusioning me

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jc2 says that our quota management system (QMS) limits fishing – so addresses the issue to some degree.

Indeed that is exactly what the QMS is supposed to do. But….. in practise…. of the 628 fish stocks managed under the QMS:

- we only have enough info to determine status of stock for <19% (117 stocks);
- Very few species are subject to regular quantitative stock assessments;
- Only a handful of stocks (around 10) are assessed against their quota each year;
- A minoriity of quotas requiring reductions or cautious decision making fail to be implement due to failing the 'legal challenge' test. Orange roughy a prime example.

The Best Fish Guide is a tool that does not discourage us from eating fish. Rather it encourages us to be well informed prior to our decision making so that we make a wise choice for our oceans.

It's pretty simple really – read, learn, ask questions and just don't eat the red fish!

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@pentwig, no I’m not, our fishing industry will be introuble until:

- We ensure foreign vessels, meet NZ H & S standards, pay NZ minimum wages and most importantly have MFish officers there to ensure they aren’t over-fishing (which NZ vessels must do at great cost)
- Eliminate bottom trawlers and dredges (at minimum)
- Massively increase Marine Reserve areas

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Everything I know I learned from Paul & Pippa!

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Pentwig isn’t bound by my answer, and everything I know, I learned from National Radio.

The quota system does work for limiting fishing effort, which has some value in preserving the future of the resource, so I’m not surprised if people who have no controls think it’s better than what they have or want to learn from it.

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Notice that there is not much green in the ‘Best Fish Guide” and the red is over the Half way mark.

I wonder how much green it will have in 2015.

Jezza is right the fishing industry is in a very serious situation, the deep dragnets have plaughed up large areas of the oceans sea floor on which the whole eco system depends.

It is going to take Pentwig a few pages of sophestry to prove otherwise and even then I don’t think he will suceed, at least not on this sight anyway.

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Do any of the fish caught by New Zealand commercial fishermen end up as stock food? Chickens, I understand, and cows (God help us all) are fed considerable amounts of fish as supplementary feed.
It seems an appalling thing to do.

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No Jezza you are wrong.
When I have time I will explain why.

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Lots of problems with our fishing industry, it annoys me it is seen as sustainable and world leading… Doesn’t say much for the industry worldwide…

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