Hello all

Its fantastic news and yes its all true.....

Yes Sanford limited have offered to be our anchor sponsor and I to say that what better example of two sectors working together in a shared fishery could we have. I welcome this offer from Sanford Limited and accept their commitment to "Kingfish go wild" in the spirit of working together in a shared fishery. A chance to do some that will help.

While we still have to continue to raise funds from the recreational sector with Sanford limited on board we are now committed to the project and it will happen. Yes we are up and running.................

Today NIWA ordered the special tags we will require for the task and it is hoped to tag 20% of the fish released at each site. Obviously to tag every fish we would be here till Christmas, But with the kind support of NIWA and a heap of volunteers we will get the job done so that we can get a good measure of movement of the fish further down the track.

The Ministry of Fisheries is giving all the support they can to facilitate the necessary paperwork for release on the fast track. The amount of commitment and people coming on board is just amazing. I am honoured to just be part of this. This is history in the making. Joint stakeholders working together to do what's right and in the best interests of our kingfish.

Following is the media release today from Sanford and the NZRFC and after this is a bit from Stuff.
I have to say its nice to be quoted correctly for a change so maybe Kingfish will be the catalyst of new beginnings.

Please keep the donations coming in and pass this as far and wide on your email lists as you can.

Above all stay tuned to www.kingfishgowild.co.nz

My thanks to all.

Keith

Keith Ingram
President
NZ Recreational Fishing Council
4 Prince Regent Drive
Half Moon Bay
Auckland

Ph: 09 5334336
Fax:09 5334337
Mob:0274584747


Media Release
Monday 26th June 2006

Kingfish Go Wild - Sanford Ltd and NZ Recreational Fishing Council Prepare for Rescue and Release

Commercial fishing company Sanford Ltd and the NZ Recreational Fishing Council (NZRFC) have joined forces to affect the release into the wild of healthy kingfish from a failed fish farming venture in the Far North.
"The goal is to save the healthy fish and transport them to release spots down the east coast," said Sanford Ltd CEO Eric Barratt.  "In the kingfish fishery - a shared fishery between commercial, recreational and customary - everyone can potentially benefit from the release of tens of thousands of fish into the wild. It's important for all users of fisheries to participate in sharing responsibility for the management of fisheries.  That benefits everyone. We're very pleased to be able to make the difference in ensuring the success of the project."

Permission is being sought from MFish (Ministry of Fisheries) and BioSecurity, with support from NIWA (the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research) which breeds kingfish for farming, for the approvals to release the fish identified as suitable into the wild.

The NZRFC has started its campaign in seeking donations from the public and acknowledges the public support given to this project.  President of the NZRFC, Keith Ingram says that Sanford Ltd's commitment has helped to save the day.

"Any project facing deadlines such as this must be carried out quickly and to have Sanford Ltd on board will ensure its success. It's a great way to support shared fisheries and we now have the resources to make the goal achievable.  We still need more - so we're asking recreational fishermen and women to donate what they can.  Quickly.  We hope that further donations will make up the difference required."

There is a deadline for the project as the fish farm can only continue to support the kingfish for a limited time.  The fish are owned by a subsidiary of the Parengarenga Incorporation. The farm is to close and the fish must go, however the joint venture has the potential to ensure the fish are purchased and then safely released when the appropriate approvals are given. The kingfish identified as suitable to travel distances range in size from 0.5kg to 2kg.  Consideration of releasing the larger fish locally is underway.

Keith Ingram confirmed that NIWA has made its purpose built live fish transporting tank system available for release of the fish at sites from Taipa and Whangaroa to the Bay of Islands and Hauraki Gulf, where the truck-mounted tanks would be put on a barge and taken to islands such as the Noises. NIWA has advised that the fish are hardy and healthy and believe from past experiences they should survive and will likely remain in a school near the release locations for some time as they acclimatize.

The NZRFC are proactively seeking further donations to support the initiative. They have a web site www.kingfishgowild.co.nz providing regular updates.   Donations can be sent to the NZRFC at 4 Prince Regent Drive, Half Moon Bay, Auckland, or to PO Box 26-064, Newlands, Wellington.


Fish farm folds with nearly $8m debts
26 June 2006 - From STUFF

A rescue mission has been launched to stop 20 tonnes of live kingfish becoming crayfish bait after a Far North fish farm folded with debts amounting to millions of dollars.

The Parengarenga Fish Farm was set up by the Paerengarenga Incorporation Society two years and had been described as a prime example of Maori economic development in the north.

However, the farm, just south of North Cape, failed to meet production expectations and folded with debts of $7.6m.

Incorporation chairman Winiata Brown was reported to have told shareholders the venture did not attract enough investors.

He said consultants failed to find investors and withdrew from the project.

The Bank of New Zealand was understood to have advanced $7m to get the farm started but that debt had now been transferred to the incorporation believed to have assets of $30m.

Now the Recreational Fishing Council wants to buy the 20 tonnes of large and small kingfish held at the fish farm and release them into the wild.
Ingram said today a deal had been struck to buy the fish - which would otherwise have become crayfish bait - provided they were disease-free.

The council had raised about 60 per cent of the $60,000 needed to tag and release the fish.

"We are going to tag as many as we can...they'll be released into different areas and we will know where they have gone and that will improve our knowledge."

He said it was also an opportunity for the recreational sector to demonstrate a responsible approach to the management of fish stocks such as kingfish and work with Maori, the Government and the commercial sector.

Available from: http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3712537a11,00.html

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