The government is now ready to take stern measure to save marine life in Opihi and Orari rivers and the Washdyke Lagoon either by restricting or prohibiting commercial fishing. The ministry has received application for a mataitai reserve, an area which identifies a traditional fishing ground for the local iwi, to restore low eel numbers.
If the ministry approved the application then the representatives of the reserve will have neither full control of the area nor management of any aspects of non-commercial fishermen which includes fishing for trout and salmon species in freshwater and white baiting. The government will have full power to put stricter rules for commercial fishing in that area.
Now it has become more difficult to catch a feed in local rivers. In 2007 the members of Arowhenua Marae struggled to find enough eels for a hui. Ernest Johnston of Te Runanga o Arowhenua said that they are more concern about the present situation. They are worry that they cannot provide healthy eels for visitors to the marae and for their own customers because too much eeling has brought down the number of eels in that area.
