Call for Southland farmers to boycott Fish & Game
"We’re fed up with Southland Fish & Game’s persistent, belligerent anti-farming rhetoric and their opposition to everything we do."
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Federated Farmers Southland is calling for local farmers to boycott Fish & Game and remove fishing access across their land.
"Farmers have always allowed anglers to walk across their land as a gesture of goodwill but, unfortunately, that goodwill has been completely eroded by Southland Fish & Game," Federated Farmers Southland president Jason Herrick said.
"We’re fed up with Southland Fish & Game’s persistent, belligerent anti-farming rhetoric and their opposition to everything we do.
"We’ve tried our best to maintain our relationship with them, but they’ve washed that relationship away down the Mataura River.
"We’re now calling for local farmers to join us in boycotting fishing licences, and to remove fishing access by taking down access signs.
"Farmers can replace those signs with an orange ribbon to show their frustration with Fish & Game, and anyone else who wants to show their support could do that by attaching an orange ribbon to their roadside gate as well.
"I want to be very clear: we’re not asking farmers to destroy access signs, but they can return their signs to Southland Fish and Game if they like."
Herrick emphasises that the boycott is in Southland only.
He said the decision has been sparked by a recent court decision that would require more than 3000 Southland farmers to apply for a resource consent just to continue farming.
"Southland Fish & Game were one of the main groups pushing for that decision, which is an absolute kick in the guts for farmers down here," Herrick said.
"This has come on top of a raft of challenges from Fish & Game, including on gravel management and management of flooding in the Waituna Lagoon area.
"It’s the last straw and we’re now taking action.
"Southland Fish & Game are using licence funds against farmers and against all New Zealanders by making land use so difficult.
"They've destroyed the goodwill of farmers - and we've had enough."
Southland Fish & Game manager Zane Moss is disappointed that Southland Federated Farmers were using this issue to limit access for everyday New Zealanders “wanting to catch some fish to unwind or for the dinner table”.
He said Federated Farmers comments didn’t reflect Fish & Game’s experiences working constructively with Southland farmers.
Southland Fish & Game works to manage and protect fish and game bird species and their habitats.
Moss said as part of that work Southland Fish & Game was involved in the Environment Court case where it gave evidence as did other parties, including Federated Farmers.
“Based on the evidence, the Court concluded our rivers were significantly degraded by diffuse discharges, and that the rules in the proposed Southland Water and Land Plan weren't sufficiently robust to ensure that it didn't continue.
“Southland Fish & Game works closely with farmers across the region and understand the challenges they face.
“Environment Southland should put effective rules in place around the riskiest practices so all farmers are not required to seek consents.”
What about the farmers that fish? Do they put a blue ribbon on their gate? 🎀