A great idea from Ralston
Bill Ralston writes in support of John Key’s suggestion that “the presence of around 40 bleeding, offal-filled crab pots just off the beach” might be helping attract the sharks, and laments that Jim Anderton rejected it out of hand. He also points out the Seafood Industry Council is hardly an uninterested party in this.
Anyway I like his solution to find out who is right:
When confronted by common sense, the Government and interest groups automatically assumed entrenched positions to block it.
To solve the debate, I suggest that Jim Anderton, his experts and the worthy members of the Seafood Industry Council be placed in lifejackets and tethered to the suppurating crab pots for 24 hours to test whether or not they attract sharks. If they survive, they were right, if not, then they posthumously owe John Key and the bathers at Omaha an apology.
Heh.
January 20th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
It was a rather silly column from Ralston. In one of Key’s few unscripted moments he made an off the cuff suggestion that turned out to have no basis in fact. It’s not a huge issue but it did show a lack of judgment when Key hasn’t got his media minders around him.
January 20th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
I don’t think it is an issue one way or another. Some locals supported Key, including the head of the local lifesavers, the Govt and a lobby group said it would make no difference (as did Whale Oil).
January 20th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
On the contray – John Key is a local and his observations and comments are endorsed by other locals.
Commonsense versus Government propoganda.
I endorse Ralstons idea its definitely a vote winner and would at the same time help to reduce the numbers of MP’s in parliament.
January 20th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
John Key National’s new shadow minister for AG & Fish.
As several of the letters to the editor in the Hearld have pointed out, there is more Berley pumped into the sea by amateur fishman especially over the Christmas break, that anything placed into the sea by pot holder would be insignificant.
He wouldn’t have a clue what he’s talking about, which should hold in good stead when he loses the next election.
January 20th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
So John Keys no allowed to hold and express a personal opinion on an issue now?
NZ under the nazis….opps…Labour.
January 20th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Wow is Tāne the Government’s Duty Blogger agreeing with Whaleoil….wonders never cease.
I bet that just makes you feel sick huh Tāne?
January 20th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Maybe Key should just issue press releases telling young people to enjoy summer and write some poetry, after all, that has been an official Labour Party communication issued recently.
Shame on John Key for being a concerned local resident of Omaha who uses his position as a notable to bring attention to an issue of concern. I mean, you’d never see Helen Clark flexing her political capital to try and bring attention to an issue of concern in her neighbourhood, would you?
January 20th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
I feel sorry for the sharks if they go ahead with it.
January 20th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Is John Key also calling for all the recreational fishers in Omaha to stop using bait burleys as well?
January 20th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Not a totally genuine argument or solution from Ralston, but that’s opinion based point scoring for you.
As someone pointed out the other day:
As an alternative, more honest experiment, why not have some tied to crab pots, others to berley packs of the recreational fishing boats, others dragged behind surf lifesaving boats as they harras sharks, some idly swimming near bait fish areas, and as a control some dropped 2 miles from shore, nowhere near the sharks.
Last man swimming wins.
It’s all a bit ridiculous. Who’s argument is less ridiculous…? Oh well he must be right then.
January 20th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
I thought that Jim Anderton was dead..
To paraphrase Mike Moore
.
January 21st, 2008 at 12:49 am
I love the way DPF is spinning so furiously on this one.
Fact is, John Key is not a marine biologist, or at least last I heard.
If he had said “perhaps DOC or a university marine biologist should investigate if there is evidence that crab pots could attract sharks” you could very well argue.
Trouble is those pesky marine biologists are saying more sharks are appearing because of warm ocean currents.
Why do they hate the free market so much?
January 21st, 2008 at 8:18 am
As several of the letters to the editor in the Hearld have pointed out, there is more Berley pumped into the sea by amateur fishman especially over the Christmas break, that anything placed into the sea by pot holder would be insignificant.
How many amateur fisherman do you see trying to catch fish close to people swimming? Amatuer fisherman who use berley are typically fishing from boats, I highly doubt they are going to park up in 6 feet of water and try to catch a snapper, especially when their shiny boat can take them away from the area where all the kicking and splashing of the swimmers is going to spook the fish.
But dont let lack of knowledge get in the way of a good sledging.
January 21st, 2008 at 11:26 am
I recall evidence presented on TV last year about the increase in sharks in Aussie recreational swimming bays being strongly associated with proximity to the bays and wharves where fishing boats are hosed off after a days fishing ie pouring blood and guts into the sea.
I think Key is likely to be correct to some degree.