Angler limits axed on top fishing river

Fish and Game has abandoned a ballot system that slashed tourist numbers but failed to reduce crowding on some of New Zealand's most popular fishing rivers.

Last summer, Fish and Game limited the number of anglers allowed to fish the Greenstone and Caples rivers near Queenstown.

Only 51 anglers - accompanied by a fishing companion and a guide - were permitted to fish the rivers in the two months to mid-March.

Amid fierce opposition from anglers, places were balloted. Fish and Game gave fishing rights to 45 of the 99 New Zealanders who applied, two of five overseas anglers and four of nine commercial fishing guides.

A study by the Cawthron Institute in Nelson, given to the Sunday Star-Times, shows the ballot did not reduce crowding.

While the restrictions were in force, 23% of anglers reported bumping into more than two other anglers - the threshold set by Fish and Game. This encounter rate was higher than the 20% recorded in 2003. Fish and Game has since proposed new regulations to Conservation Minister Chris Carter that dump the ballot in favour of a first-come, first-served booking system.

Otago manager Niall Watson said the changes fine-tuned the pilot ballot system. But Queenstown guide and ballot opponent Ken Cochrane said the change was a significant and welcome turnaround.

"The whole ballot process put them under such criticism they had to rethink it."

Under the new rules, Fish and Game has introduced "beats" for anglers - sections of the river they must stick to, to avoid meeting others. It has also tightened rules on companion places to prevent the black-market trade that arose from the ballot system.

It may cap the number of permits issued to commercial guides if they dominate the booking system in its first trial this summer.

Fish and Game is working on a voluntary code with guides and helicopter operators to reduce flights at the start of the fishing season and during peak holiday periods when the Greenstone and Caples rivers are busier.

"People who walk in would prefer not to have helicopters flying over . . . it diminishes the solitude aspect," Watson said.

Despite criticism that the ballot killed Kiwis' right to fish their own rivers, the Cawthron Institute study shows the scheme slashed tourist numbers.

Tourists made up only 4.4% of anglers on the Greenstone last summer, compared with 67% in 2002-03. Cochrane said the downturn had dented guides' income.

"Had the ballot continued, it would have had a huge impact on guides' business because we have return clients who would have started looking at alternative fishing destinations."

The institute predicts pressure on other rivers could rise as a result of controls on the Greenstone. Between 37% and 44% of anglers it surveyed said they would fish the Greenstone less and/ or fish elsewhere in Otago.

Other Fish and Game councils have indicated they might adopt ballots for crowded rivers.

Watson said it was inevitable that Fish and Game would have to impose more controls on back-country rivers. "There's no point giving everyone an absolute right of access if they're pressuring the fishing to the point that no one's enjoying themselves.


SOURCE: TARA ROSS