Southlanders want more regulation around whitebaiting but changes are not likely to occur for this upcoming season. Invercargill resident Lloyd Smith, who has been whitebaiting for 15 years, said changes to regulations needed to be met with changes in the culture. Whitebaiting needed to be treated like trout fishing, where there was a catch limit. "I think it reflects New Zealanders' strong connection to nature and the desire to make sure our native whitebait species survive and thrive into the future," Sage said. The whitebait season starts on the West Coast on September 1 and elsewhere in New Zealand on August 15.

Source: Stuff May 23, 2019 05:03 UTC