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Fishermen are preparing to fight to ensure "fishing culture" along the southeast coast of the South Island does not become a tale of the one that got away.

Public submissions on proposals for 20 sites for possible inclusion in a network of marine-protected areas from north of the Pareora River, near Timaru, to Waipapa Point, in southeast Southland, opened on Tuesday.

Commercial fisherman and South-East Marine Protection Forum member Ate Heineman (66), of Sawyers Bay, said he had been in the commercial fishing industry for about 50 years and owned the 16m fishing boat Echo.

The biggest concern over the proposed areas was the "displacement" of commercial fishermen if the proposed marine reserves were approved and the pressure it would put on the remaining unprotected fishing areas. The commercial fishermen needed access to enough areas to make a living, he said.

"Where do these guys go and at what cost — environmentally and financially ...  If it all goes ahead, the financial cost would be massive."

The industry supported marine protection as long as there was a benefit, such as better breeding grounds for marine life. However, the industry was "dead against" marine protection for "political gain".

The proposal had "fired up" some commercial fishers in Dunedin because it could be the "nail in the coffin" for some operators. The expense of running a commercial operation within the quota system since its introduction in the mid-1980s had resulted in a gradual decline in the number of commercial fishers across New Zealand.

Gary Homan (79), of Taieri Mouth, said he had been a commercial fisherman in the area for about 60 years. In the late 1960s,  26 commercial fishing operations were based at Taieri Mouth and now there were three operators, including him and his 14m boat Schemer. He believed the Government was  proposing the marine protected areas to shut down the remaining operators.

"They are cleaning up the stragglers — the few stupid bastards who are left."

Despite the claims from environmentalists of commercial fishers’ effect on the fishery he has seen little change in the number of fish caught over the past 60 years.

"We catch just as much, or more."

Tautuku Fishing Club president Brett Bensemann said the club would "battle" to maintain the status quo and strongly opposed the proposal for the areas of Smaills Beach, Tomahawk Beach, St Kilda and St Clair beaches to White Island becoming marine reserves. The areas were self-protecting through the "unfavourable and unpredictable" weather and sea conditions.

The marine life thrived with the "favourable canyon ecosystems" in the area, Mr Bensemann said. The areas provided safe places to introduce young fishers to the sport and "the art of putting food on the table".The club would support a marine reserve at Papanui Canyon.

If approved, the canyon would allow the Government to collect scientific data on the effectiveness of marine reserves in protecting the fishery, he said. The Government wanted at least one marine reserve and Papanui Canyon should meet the demand, Mr Bensemann said.

Club secretary Mark Fraser said if the proposed marine reserves on the Dunedin coastline were implemented, it could "kill the fishing culture" in the city. 

The club and its more than 120 members would host a public meeting at the club at  Ocean Grove at 3pm on Sunday. The submission period closes at 5pm on December 20.

shawn.mcavinue@odt.co.nz