SPORTS FISH AND GAME MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR OTAGO FISH AND GAME REGION 2015-2025 OTAGO FISH & GAME COUNCIL PO BOX 76 CNR HARROW AND HANOVER STREETS DUNEDIN TELEPHONE (03) 4779076 EMAIL [email protected] WEBSITE http://otago.fishandgame.org.nz/ “in the interests of anglers and hunters” 1 CONTENTS: PART I BACKGROUND AND RESOURCE SUMMARY ...................................... 5 1. How To Use This Plan ............................................................................... 5 1.1 Operation of Plan .......................................................................................................... 5 1.2 Plan Review ................................................................................................................... 5 2. Introduction ............................................................................................. 5 2.1 Conservation Act 1987 .................................................................................................. 6 2.2 Wildlife Act 1953 ........................................................................................................... 7 3. Wider Legal Context ................................................................................. 8 3.1 Resource Management Act 1991.................................................................................. 8 3.2 Biosecurity Act 1993 ..................................................................................................... 9 3.3 Local Government Act 1974.......................................................................................... 9 3.4 Crown Pastoral Land Act 1998 ...................................................................................... 9 3.5 National Parks Act 1980 ................................................................................................ 9 3.6 Reserves Act 1977 ......................................................................................................... 9 3.7 Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 ................................ 10 3.8 Ngai Tahu Claims Settlement Act 1998....................................................................... 10 3.9 Public Finance Act 1989 .............................................................................................. 10 3.10 Walking Access Act 2008 ......................................................................................... 10 3.11 Public Works Act 1981 ............................................................................................. 11 3.10 Relationship with Ngai Tahu .................................................................................... 12 3.11 Relationship with the Department of Conservation (DOC) ..................................... 13 3.12 Relationship with the Otago Regional Council ........................................................ 14 3.13 Relationship with territorial local authorities ......................................................... 14 3.14 Relationship with the New Zealand Walking Access Commission .......................... 14 4 Resource Summary ................................................................................ 15 4.1 Otago Fish and Game Region ...................................................................................... 15 4.2 Sports Fish Populations ............................................................................................... 16 4.3 Game Bird Populations ............................................................................................... 19 4.4 Resource Use............................................................................................................... 21 4.5 Sports Fish and Game Resources in Otago ................................................................. 22 4.6 Angling and Hunting Recreational Opportunity Spectrum for Otago ........................ 23 4.7 Significance Grading .................................................................................................... 25 4.7.1 Nationally significant ............................................................................................... 25 4.7.2 Regionally significant ............................................................................................... 25 4.7.3 Locally significant ..................................................................................................... 26 4.7.4 Review of significance ............................................................................................. 26 PART II FISH AND GAME MANAGEMENT ISSUES AND POLICY RESPONSES ................................................................................................................................. 27 2 5 Species Management ............................................................................. 27 5.1 Outcome ..................................................................................................................... 28 5.2 Issues ........................................................................................................................... 28 5.3 Objectives .................................................................................................................... 29 5.4 Policies ........................................................................................................................ 31 6 Habitat Protection & Management......................................................... 34 6.1 Outcome ..................................................................................................................... 35 6.2 Issues ........................................................................................................................... 35 6.3 Objectives .................................................................................................................... 37 6.4 Policies ........................................................................................................................ 37 7 Angler and Hunter Participation ............................................................. 40 7.1 Outcomes .................................................................................................................... 40 7.2 Issues ........................................................................................................................... 40 7.3 Objectives .................................................................................................................... 42 7.4 Policies ........................................................................................................................ 43 8. Public Interface ........................................................................................................... 47 8.1 Outcome ..................................................................................................................... 47 8.2 Issues ........................................................................................................................... 47 8.3 Objectives .................................................................................................................... 48 8.4 Policies ........................................................................................................................ 48 9 Administration and Statutory Servicing .................................................. 49 9.1 Outcome ..................................................................................................................... 49 9.2 Issues ........................................................................................................................... 49 9.3 Objectives .................................................................................................................... 50 10 Compliance ............................................................................................ 52 10.1 Outcome .................................................................................................................. 52 10.2 Issues ....................................................................................................................... 52 10.4 Policies ..................................................................................................................... 53 11 Plan Implementation ............................................................................. 54 11.1 Target Dates for Key Actions ................................................................................... 54 APPENDIX 1. LEGAL STATUS OF FISH & GAME SPECIES ............................................... 56 APPENDIX 2. MAP: OTAGO FISH & GAME REGION ....................................................... 57 APPENDIX 3. OTAGO’S FISH AND GAME RESOURCES ................................................... 58 APPENDIX 4. RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITY SPECTRUM ............................................. 73 APPENDIX 5. SPORTS FISH AND GAMEBIRD RESOURCE SIGNIFICANCE ........................... 76 5.1 Nationally Significant Habitats ............................................................... 78 5.2 Regionally Significant Habitats ............................................................... 80 3 5.3 Locally Significant Habitats ..................................................................... 86 APPENDIX 6. WETLAND RESERVES OWNED OR MANAGED BY THE COUNCIL.................. 91 APPENDIX 7. PUT & TAKE STOCKING SCHEDULE ......................................................... 93 APPENDIX 8. APPROVAL ............................................................................................