According to the Green Party the Department of Conservation (DOC) is allowing commercial fishers to take eels, some which are threatened, from rivers on conservation land. DOC has confirmed that claim saying that it issued concessions allowing commercial operators to catch eels from rivers located in the West Coast Tai Poutini Conservancy. Green Party Conservation spokesman Kevin Hague told that it was outrageous that threatened native eels could be taken at all let alone within protected areas.
Due to the permission of commercial fishing three species of eel were affected: the native longfin and shortfin eel, and the Australian longfin eel. DOC itself listed native longfin eel as a threatened species in gradual decline. The same has been listed for spotted kiwi also. Hague said that allowing commercial fishing of these eels on the conservation estate is an appalling decision by the government department charged with protecting our most threatened species.
DOC Conservator Mike Slater confirmed three concessions lasting five years were granted to commercial eel fishers within the conservancy. He told that the department administers the Conservation Act 1987, under this Act, if people want to conduct a commercial activity on public conservation land, they are required to hold a concession for the activity.
A spokesman for Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson informed that the right process had been followed before the concessions were issued. A spokeswoman for Fisheries Minister Phil Heatley said under the Fisheries Act sustainable populations could be fished under the Quota Management System (QMS).
