Oysters and People

[REAF]

Dr Peter Knight, an Otago University researcher has just forwarded his
findings to ministry of environment and fisheries, that to halt the decline
in the Foveaux Strait oyster beds he says "too much emphasis has been given
to 40 years of scientific studies and not enough to long term knowledge of
the fishermen and Bluff residents intimately connected with the resource."

Thanks to those who have been able to help this little project along so far
and I am looking at forming a Society to manage the Opotiki Community Reef
on behalf of the people of Opotiki once this groundwork is complete, so more
calls will be coming out from me.

On our last deployment trip I managed to get my anchor snagged on the new
reef , another first ;-) and so for a time left it with a black buoy
attached for research purposes. Its at 22m depth so no doubt fishers of
Opotiki will be using the reef sooner than expected.

Good fishing
Lloyd