Variable weather conditions cause loss of fish at sea
Graham Carter made this Official Information request to Minister for Primary Industries
The request was successful.
From: Graham Carter
Dear Minister for Primary Industries,
Nathan Guy
Minister for Primary Industries
Dear Sir
I recently received a Press Release from Aotearoa Fisheries regarding the loss of fish at sea during bad weather conditions off Muriwai Beach.
Would you kindly provide us with some further information regarding this loss by Aotearoa Fisheries as the press release leaves a lot of unanswered questions.
1. Can you give an exact date/ time and location, when the vessel was hit by
large waves?
2. If the weather conditions were so bad, why was the boat out there fishing?
3. Clearly the skipper would have known that the weather was bad as the crew were wearing life jackets so one would question the competence of the skipper in continuing to fish in these alarming conditions?
4. Did the vessel have cameras operating to record this loss?
5. What is the name of the boat and skipper?
6. The fish must have drifted faster than the trawler could steam as the fish beat the vessel back in. How did the fish get to the beach before the trawler?
7. If the crew were so scared of the sea and a near miss that caused an estimated (as their guess 500 kg of fish) to wash up on the beach something else had to accrue:
a. The trawler continued to fish after the first wave hit, therefore it was not too rough.
b. Or they simple got caught dumping fish so made up this story. If the boat had been in port when the fish were found I would have believed them.
Regards
Graham Carter
Variable weather conditions cause loss of fish at sea
Yesterday, vessels on the west coast experienced severe weather conditions of up to 25 knot cross winds and 4 metre swells.
Unfortunately, a fishing boat contracted to Aotearoa Fisheries Limited (AFL) was caught in these variable weather conditions and lost half a tonne of fish over the side after being hit by three large waves just south of South Head in the Kaipara Harbour.
The skipper says “The weather was really quite frightening. It was like being in a washing machine.”
On Monday night, 19th October 2015, the trawl vessel had just brought a bag of snapper on board when the waves hit the boat causing the loss of fish and considerable damage to the vessel.
Thankfully, all crew were safe and were all wearing life jackets.
Given the conditions, the skipper decided the safest cause of action was to steam straight back to port and arrived safely into Onehunga early this morning.
Aotearoa Fisheries CEO says “The skipper has done everything right. Coming straight back to port to ensure the safety of his crew was paramount in this situation. He had recorded the loss on his Catch Landing Report as he is required to do.”
The recorded loss comes off allocated quota so is accounted for under the Quota Management System.
Ministry for Primary Industries officials were at the port soon after the vessels arrival to undertake their investigation into the loss.
Aotearoa Fisheries regrets the any loss of fish at sea but commends the skipper for acting responsibly and safely. He followed correct procedure at all times.
Yours faithfully,
Graham Carter
From: N Guy (MIN)
Minister for Primary Industries
Good morning,
On behalf of Hon Nathan Guy, thank you for your email.
The Minister is considering your request in accordance with the Official Information Act and will reply to you in due course.
Kind regards,
Sam Patchett
Private Secretary - Office of Hon Nathan Guy
MP for Otaki | Minister for Primary Industries| Minister for Racing
Parliament Buildings | Private Bag 18888 | Wellington 6160
DDI: (04) 817 9139
show quoted sections
From: Sam Patchett
Dear Graham
I refer to your official information request of 22 October 2015 relating
to:
Would you kindly provide us with some further information regarding this
loss by Aotearoa Fisheries as the press release leaves a lot of unanswered
questions.
1. Can you give an exact date/ time and location, when the
vessel was hit by
large waves?
2. If the weather conditions were so bad, why was the boat out
there fishing?
3. Clearly the skipper would have known that the weather was
bad as the crew were wearing life jackets so one would question the
competence of the skipper in continuing to fish in these alarming
conditions?
4. Did the vessel have cameras operating to record this loss?
5. What is the name of the boat and skipper?
6. The fish must have drifted faster than the trawler could
steam as the fish beat the vessel back in. How did the fish get to the
beach before the trawler?
7. If the crew were so scared of the sea and a near miss that
caused an estimated (as their guess 500 kg of fish) to wash up on the
beach something else had to accrue:
a. The trawler continued to fish after the first wave hit,
therefore it was not too rough.
b. Or they simple got caught dumping fish so made up this
story. If the boat had been in port when the fish were found I would have
believed them.
This letter is to advise you that the Minister is transferring your
request to the Ministry for Primary Industries under section 14 of the
Official Information Act 1982.
Your request is being transferred because the information you are seeking
is more closely connected with the functions of the Ministry for Primary
Industries.
Kind regards,
Sam Patchett
Private Secretary - Office of Hon Nathan Guy
MP for Otaki | Minister for Primary Industries| Minister for Racing
Parliament Buildings | Private Bag 18888 | Wellington 6160
DDI: (04) 817 9139
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From: Brett Wilson
Hi Graham
On behalf of Dean Baigent - Director, Compliance – Operations, Ministry
for Primary Industries, please find attached MPI’s response to your OIA
request dated 21 October 2015 as received by MPI on 22 October 2015
following transfer from Minister Guy’s office.
Regards
show quoted sections
From: Brett Wilson
Resending MPI’s follow up response, refer the email below sent 27 November
2017.
Regards
From: Brett Wilson
Sent: Monday, 27 November 2017 3:53 PM
To: '[FOI #3269 email]'
<[FOI #3269 email]>
Subject: OIA15-0226 Follow up response - Summary of enquiries
Hi Graham
Please find attached a follow up response by the Ministry for Primary
Industries (MPI) concerning your Official Information Act (OIA) request
from 2015. This is in response to a preliminary enquiry by the
Ombudsman’s Office following your Official Information Act complaint about
MPI’s initial response.
Regards
show quoted sections
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Oliver Lineham (FYI.org.nz volunteer) left an annotation ()
The above 30 Nov 2017 response was delayed in our holding/spam pen due to the request address previously attracting spam.
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