An increase in freshwater fishing fees for international visitors is pathetic and of little consequence, a Blenheim fisherman says.
Former Fish & Game councillor Tony Orman said the introduction of non-resident licences for international visitors was a great idea, but would be of little benefit for trout fisheries management and advocacy in New Zealand.
Prior to the change, visitors could fish at the same cost as resident fishermen.
The increase was a small price to pay in comparison with non-residential angling fees in countries like the United States where visitors paid up to 600 per cent more than residents in some fishing states, Orman said.
Of the visitors he had spoken to, many had expected to pay a fee of at least three or four times the resident costs to fish in New Zealand rivers.
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