Anglers 'shareholders in game resource'

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 555, 27 September 1994, Page 14

Anglers 'shareholders in game resource'

What do anglers get for their licence fee? Why does an adult fishing licence cost $56 this season? Whether you agree with the fee or not, every licence holder is probably interested in where it goes. Anglers are in effect the shareholders of the Fish and Game Council and the fisheries and game-bird resource. Fish and game in New Zealand is self-funding.

Licences provide every dollar that is spent on gamebird and fresh- water fisheries management. There is no government funding. Fish and Game Councils can therefore fight the battles they choose to, even though this may be contrary to government policy of the day. This has enabled major campaigns to be run against proposals for hy-dro-development, wet-land drainage, trout farming etc

and in support of river conservation orders and habitat protection. How can the licence fee be reduced? In setting the fee, the total operating budget for fish and game is divided by the number of licences expected to be sold. Sell more licences and the fee drops. Sell less and the feerises. This is why fishing or hunting without a licence is a serious matter. Basically

it is stealing from every one who pays. Where does your $56 go? For a start, the government takes $7 for GST leaving $49. The accompanying pie chart, supplied by the local game council, illustrates how the rest of the licence fee will be spent in 1994/ 95. The council claims much effort will be (and has been) put into habitat protection through input to regional

and district council policy statements and plans. Without this input the maintenance and enhancement of the sports-fish and gamebird resource could not be assured, says the council. A wet-land creation scheme, riparian management projects and a wet-land inventory will also aid in the protection and enhancement of habitat. Species management through the assessment and

monitoring of fish and game-bird populations is another high priority area for the game council. It is important to ensure that licence holder opportunities are maximised without compromising resource sustainability. They also hope to focus effort on public relations and the promotion of angling and hunting in the region. Access arrangements will be negotiated with landowners and access signs erected to encourage participation in the sport. Licence saies are again on the increase and continued pro-

motion will ensure that licence fees are maintained at an acceptable level. The game council will also participate in the National Angler Survey this season to obtain up-dated figures on angling use. Administration includes a wide-range of activities, such as council servicing and licence and finance management. The appointment of ajoint manager and field-officer between the Taranaki and Wellington regions is expected to increase administrative efficiency and free-up resources.