Public ideas sought on management of blue cod fishery

Public ideas sought on management of blue cod fishery

The Blue Cod Management Group is encouraging the local community to attend drop-in sessions in Picton and Nelson next week to learn more about the review of the Marlborough Sounds blue cod fishing rules.

“We want to work with the community to find the best outcomes for the Marlborough Sounds blue cod fishery,” says Eric Jorgensen, spokesperson for the Blue Cod Management Group.

“We want to get everyone involved in developing potential options for the fishery before the release of an official consultation document in the middle of this year,” says Mr Jorgensen.

Drop-in sessions will be held in Nelson on the 18th March and Picton on the 19th March. The sessions provide an opportunity for people to discuss information under-pinning the review of the fishing rules and to ask any questions.

The fishery closed in 2008 to provide for the recovery of blue cod populations in the Marlborough Sounds and reopened in 2011 with recreational fishing rules to help boost the blue cod population in the Marlborough Sounds back to healthy levels while enabling ongoing use and enjoyment of this fishery.

Since then, feedback from some members in the recreational fishing community has highlighted that a review of the management system is needed to make the rules easier to understand and comply with and to minimise unwanted deaths of blue cod.

“It is important that we continue to work to ensure healthy populations of blue cod. Latest science shows that some blue cod populations are not much better off than when the fishery was closed in 2008 and there are too many blue cod being killed in Pelorus and Queen Charlotte Sounds,” says Mr Jorgensen.

“These sessions are a good opportunity for those in the community to get involved to help us develop potential management options for this important fishery.”

Information on the drop-in sessions can found below. For more information on the blue cod fishery, and what you can do to get involved in the review, please visit the Marlborough Sounds blue cod consultation page.

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