Can we Fish during Lockdown
To fish or not to fish in a time of Covid. I can only pass on officia information received in the order that I have received.
Coastguard
https://elink.clickdimensions.com/m/1/47062841/02-b20083-7340a6fa36c9468ab6676f38399e60d9/32/906/f971543c-444b-484c-8b23-aa1f9a67307f
| Urgent message from Coastguard: uniting againstCOVID-19 Yesterday, we heard from the Prime Minister that to combat this virus we need to self-isolate and take individual responsibility. Last year Coastguard responded to more than 3,700 calls for help, proving that regardless of your planning and preparation as a boatie, you can’t always rely on your own steam to get home. As individuals we need to recognise that our actions can have an effect on others. We have had a lot of calls and messages from the public asking if they’re able to go out on the water during the lockdown period; our answer is no. Should you get into difficulty, you will quickly want help from Coastguard volunteers and staff, requiring them to leave self-isolation and come together to help you. At this time when we all need to Unite to beat Covid-19, we ask that you stay off the water and out of harm’s way. Please don’t put yourself or others at risk. Stay safe, keep well. |
From Taupo Harbourmaster
COVID-19 Response measures
From 11:59pm 25 March 2020 all Crown owned ramps and the Motuoapa Marina restroom facilities will be closed until further notice.
Essential travel is allowed ONLY (to the supermarket or pharmacy). Boating, fishing and hunting is not essential. If accidents or breakdown happen on the road, on the water, or in the bush etc. it will take up essential services time and increase potential contamination.
We need your support to protect New Zealand and eradicate COVID-19.
Stay home, stay safe.
Kind Regards,
Harbourmaster Team | Taupō Moana
Fish and Game Facebook
Fish & Game New Zealand
22 hrs ·
The Government’s clear intention at this stage is that fishing and hunting are prohibited during the Alert Level 4 lockdown period. If and when we receive other advice from the Government we will change our position.
Therefore, Fish & Game New Zealand are urging all anglers and hunters to do the right thing and stay at home while New Zealand is at COVID-19 Alert Level Four.
“Unfortunately, being at Level 4 means that anglers and hunters aren’t able to do the pursuits that they love,” Fish & Game New Zealand Chief Executive Martin Taylor says.
“The advice we have is that at Alert Level 4 anglers and hunters should not undertake activities that expose them and others to higher levels of risk. We are also advised that DOC huts and campsites are closed as they do not meet minimum separation requirements.”
New Zealand Search and Rescue (NZSAR) is asking people to stick to simple outdoor exercise and avoid areas where they could get lost or require search and rescue. NZSAR want to ensure that emergency services are available to help those in the greatest need.
Fishing and hunting, even close to home, inherently carry a degree of risk and it is important for anglers and hunters not to further burden our emergency services and healthcare system. Staying in and around home is simply the right thing to do.
“It is heart-breaking to not be able to spend time in the outdoors, especially as for many of us this is our main way to destress, but we all have our part to play to beat COVID-19,” Mr Taylor says.
“The point of the next four weeks is to kill the virus in New Zealand so that life goes back to normal as quickly as possible. Let’s stay home for four weeks then we can get outdoors and back into angling and hunting.”
The Level 4 lockdown period is scheduled to end prior to the start of the game bird season, and if we are all responsible during the next four weeks the game bird season is on.
We ask for your patience while we piece together the complexities of what we are facing. In particular, we will have further advice on pegging day as soon as possible.
It is our intention to give anglers and hunters ongoing updates.
DOC Trout Fishery (Facebook)
Taupo Trout Fishery
1 hr ·
We find ourselves in unprecedented times. From midnight tonight the majority of people are expected to stay at home in order to stop the spread of COVID-19. In this time of national emergency, the priority must be to look out for our families and our communities, and in doing so help our country to get through this.
While government advice allows for people to spend short periods of time outdoors to improve physical and mental well-being, recreational activities are not included. Therefore, we must ask all trout anglers in the Taupō Region to stop fishing until this advice changes.
Many trout anglers who fish the Taupō region have already elected to stop fishing. The scale of the challenge facing our communities makes it an easy decision to make.
If we all pull together and respect official guidelines, we could soon find ourselves back on the water.
As responsible members there is the wise advise of Winnie the Pooh to follow.
Thanks to all the organisations from whom I have gleaned information on whether we can go fishing.
Eric Wilson
Secretary.