1. Origins: This fisheries management plan originates from a two day hui held at Omaka Marae, Blenheim in October 2002. It was called to discuss the future management of coastal marine areas and was attended by a diverse range of interested community, iwi and government groups¹.
The keys areas of consensus of the hui were² :

• Much is still not known about the marine environment;
• More education and research is needed to base decisions upon, for changing attitudes, and enabling groups to work collaboratively;
• The Marlborough Sounds recreational fisheries are in trouble and there is agreement that something needs to be done urgently;
• Local management of these fisheries is desired and that this is provided for within existing fisheries legislation;
• Establishing objectives for management of each fishery, and the form of any fisheries plan are processes which will require a lot of work and consultation;
• Somebody has to take the initiative, and it will take time;
• The hui's preferred form of fisheries management for the Marlborough Sounds appears to be taiapure;
• The reason for establishing marine reserves is ecosystem protection and tourism rather than fisheries management, and investigation into the potential for marine reserves should focus on this aspect;
• It has been recommended that a working party be established to progress these activities. The party to consist of representatives of iwi, DOC, MFISH, MDC, recreational and commercial fishers;
• The Marlborough District Council should act as administrative agency to the working party, possible using an independent facilitator;
• The hui organising committee would gather together and publicise the findings of the group.
• At the conclusion of the hui it was resolved that a working party be established to further develop the aspirations of the attendees.

2. The Working Group: In a workshop held on 9 December 2003³ the Vision Statement and Objectives were identified (see Objectives & Strategies). In December 2004 the Working Group was re-established as a distinct entity, namely the Marlborough Sounds Fisheries Management Working Group Incorporated, to enable a fisheries management plan to be developed and management entity established. The membership of the Working Group comprises of IWI, recreational and commercial fishers, tourboat operators, aquaculture industry, Ministry of Fisheries, Dept. of Conservation, Marlborough District Council and residents.

3. The Ministry of Fisheries Management Plan Framework:
The Ministry of Fisheries (MFish) are working on developing Fisheries Plans based on QMA (Quota Management Areas) fish stocks, this means that the areas MFish are developing is far greater area than Soundfish represents.

The Soundfish committee are not yet aware as to how a stock based Fishery Plan will take into account finer scale management areas. This will be worked through and discussed with MFish.

*1. Refer minutes of Omaka Hui 5/6 October 2002 for full list of attendees.
*2. Brian Rhodes summary refer P 14 Omaka Hui minutes 5/6 October 2002

*3. Refer p 2 MSFMWG Minutes 31 March 2004
*4. MFish Fisheries Management Plan Framework - Draft 2002 (check?)