A public meeting will be held at the Coronation Hall in Portobello at 7:00pm 28th March to discuss the propose changes made by the Ministry of Primary Industries to allow the commercial take of paua from the Otago Peninsula area. The Ministry propose opening the Cape Saunders to Harakeke Point and Robertson’s Creek to Smaill’s Beach areas. These are the areas of highest paua numbers in the Dunedin region, and the prime region for recreational paua fishing. If this proposal is approved by the Minister, commercial fishing begins on the 1^st of October this year.

You have six weeks to make a written submission stating why you are opposed to having these opened up for commercial fishing. This is a very important issue for the Otago Peninsula and every resident who has concerns over this issue should make it clear that they oppose this change in use.

The submission form is available here to download. Have your say about what happens to your recreational fishery by 4pm Friday 19th April 2013.

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