I'm re-presenting an old post I wrote on whitebaiting and the t-shirt that goes with it, thanks to some interest shown by Mike and Stella.
They've asked if the t-shirts are available and now that I have two printers-of-t-shirts for neighbours, I'm bound to say yes, I can get them to print and send you one, if you want. The shirt is pictured and while the graphics are simple (there are none) the punny-ness was enough for me. The idea is original and I'd love to see it on other people's chests!
The 'fishing' season must be approaching. There are nets hanging for sale outside of our local hardware store. I have, for a very long time, questioned the practices around whitebaiting and the so-called management of the galaxid fishery. Many of those practices are poor and efforts by the industry to manage the health of the fishery, are a sham. My criticisms aren't aimed at the recreational whitebaiter but at those who exploit the fishery and the rules around it in order to make money. I've no time either for those who destroy and damage whitebait habitat and down here in Southland, that's a high proportion of our rivers.
As part of my protest, I had this t-shirt printed and I wear it wherever I think it might be noticed.
In this photo, it's hanging on the line having been washed in preparation for the 2010 season.
9 comments:
I'm all of a dither. Our favorite food/delicacy is/are whitebait. We are not fishers of the humble creature, just devourers of a small amount each year, courtesy of some poor mutt who got a wet butt and frozen whatevers. It is our duty to consume a small number of these fine piscine fellas and presume we are not damaging the environment beyond reason.
This year I will consume each whitebait individually and praise those that "got through" to keep the species alive for another season.
Well, Fred, if you knew the status of the water it is caught in, you may have a different approach to what you call a delicacy!
You seriously eat that stuff?
Yuck!!
All fisheries should be 'sustainable' shouldn't they Fred?
I wonder how whitebaiters explain how theirs is. Do they breed 'em the way the trout guys do? Create extra habitat for them (I do but I don't know of any white baiting organizations that have constructed wetlands, ponds and so on the way we greenies did at Riverton and the Waiau Trust are doing at Te Waewae Bay.
Maybe they believe that having a 'season' is enough. personally, I think it's nowhere near what's needed.
For all that, it's difficult to point the finger at the retired recreational baiter who loves to be at the riverside with their nets. It's the market that's the villain here. If bait couldn't be sold (and there was no black market) the fish might have a chance into the future. So you see Fred, it's all your fault :-) but you're forgiven, in light of your resolution to show such restraint.
The Avon's always been a popular whitebaiting river Shunda - what are you implying?
How Majid?
I dont think it is wise to compare the whitebait fishery to the trout fishery there RG, the trout is an exotic and pest species in NZ waters...
And I would definately not be caught encouraging a sustainble trout fishery which only serves to degrade our native galaxid species even further than what they have!
trout is the deer/possum of the freshwater world dont you know?
Cheyne - I do know but I've always thought 'ferrets of the rivers'.
Have you heard of grayling?
You don't see many of those these days!
Ha! I dont think anyone has seen one of those for a long time!
although I dont think the trout was entirely to blame on that one?!?
didnt they also vanish from streams where trout were not present also?
Just because we can't actually pin it on the trout, doesn't mean we can't spread the rumour. Fed Farmers are blaming them, rather than dairy 'effluent' for steam degradation.
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