The legal rules for boating and fishing to stop the spread of exotic caulerpa

The controlled area extends from Cape Barrier in the south, up the entire western coastline to the southern edge of Port Abercrombie and out to 40 metres deep and including up to the high-tide mark (refer to the map below).

Throughout this area, there are restrictions on some fishing activities that make contact with the seafloor (and can therefore spread exotic caulerpa) – for example using flounder nets, dredging, or bottom trawling.

Anchoring without a specific permit from Biosecurity New Zealand is also prohibited in the entire area marked in red on the map below. 

At Port Fitzroy (the area coloured yellow on the map), anchoring is allowed without any permit, but before you leave the yellow permit-free anchoring zone, you must:

• check the anchor, chain, and any fishing or diving equipment that has been used in the area for attached seaweed
• remove any found seaweed and store it securely in a bag or container so it cannot get back into the sea, then dispose of it on land
• wash down any equipment with salt or freshwater to remove obvious signs of seaweed and, where possible, leave it to fully dry before using in another area.  

Restrictions on some fishing activities apply in the entire controlled area, including the Port Fitzroy permit-free anchoring zone (both red and yellow areas). See fishing directions below the map.

Map of Aotea Great Barrier Island

Within the whole controlled area (including Port Fitzroy), you can:

• line fish using a rod and line and handline from the shore or a wharf/jetty
• drift fish from a vessel – for example, kayak, boat
• spear fish and hand gather
• do shore-based longlining – for example with a kontiki or drone
• dive.

Within this area, you cannot:

• fish for any seafood (fish, crayfish, shellfish) using any method that comes into contact with the seabed – for example, you must not use flounder nets, dredging or bottom trawling
• anchor a vessel except in an emergency (for example to seek shelter in a storm) or with a permit from Biosecurity New Zealand. (Port Fitzroy is an exception. In Port Fitzroy, anchoring is allowed without a permit).

To apply for an anchoring exemption permit (for all areas of the CAN apart from Port Fitzroy), complete the application form and email it to Caulerpa@mpi.govt.nz

Permit application form for anchoring or moving vessels [PDF, 95 KB]

Permitting guidelines for anchoring [PDF, 1.2 MB]

To apply for a permit to fish for rock lobster in exceptional circumstances (for all areas of the CAN), complete the application form and email it to caulerpa@mpi.govt.nz

Guidelines for making this application and the requirements involved are below.

Permit application for a permit to fish for rock lobster in exceptional circumstances [PDF, 201 KB]

Permitting guidelines commercial rock lobster potting [PDF, 1 MB]

Review of commercial rock lobster potting permits for the exotic caulerpa Aotea and Ahuahu CAN 2023

In May 2024, Biosecurity New Zealand carried out a review of 3 time-limited permits issued to commercial rock lobster fishing operators within the Aotea Great Barrier Island Zone A controlled area where exotic caulerpa is present. The permits were issued to undertake crayfish potting under strict biosecurity conditions.

Review of Commercial rock lobster potting permits for the exotic caulerpa Aotea and Ahuahu CAN 2023 [PDF, 613 KB]

The controlled area at Great Mercury Island takes in the western bays area of the island between Maunganui Point and Ahikopua Point, including Huruhi Harbour, and including the high-tide mark.

Within this area:

• the same fishing rules apply as at Aotea Great Barrier Island (above) prohibiting activities that disturb the seafloor such as flounder netting, dredging, and bottom trawling 
• anchoring is allowed in the controlled area, however, vessel operators are required to check and clean the anchor and chain before moving to another area
• any visible seaweed should be removed and returned to the water in the area, and the anchor and chain should be rinsed.

Map of Ahuahu Great Mercury Island

The controlled area surrounds the entire Hauturu Little Barrier Island coast, up to and including the high-tide mark and to a depth of 40 metres.

Anchoring any vessel inside this controlled area is prohibited without a permit from Biosecurity New Zealand. Anchoring without a permit is allowed in the event of an emergency where no other alternative safe sheltering location or mooring can be easily found.

There are restrictions on some fishing activities within the controlled area that make contact with the seafloor (and can therefore spread exotic caulerpa). For example, you cannot use nets, dredging, bottom trawling, or cray potting. Fishing methods, such as line fishing from the shore or drift fishing from an un-anchored vessel are allowed. Spearfishing and hand-gathering are also allowed.

Before taking a vessel into or out of the controlled area, you must:

• check the anchor, anchor chain and any equipment used in sea water (for example, fishing and dive gear) for attached seaweed
• remove this plant matter and store it securely
• dispose of it back on land so it can’t get back into the sea
• clean all equipment thoroughly with fresh or salt water, and where possible, completely dry it before reusing in the ocean.

Map of Hauturu Little Barrier Island

Map of the affected area (coloured red) around Hauturu Little Barrier Island

It is illegal to fish or anchor a vessel in the defined controlled area (refer to the map) of Te Rāwhiti Inlet.

The area under controls is bounded by Whau Point, the south-eastern tip of Te Ao Island, the southern shoreline of Poroporo Island and the northern tip of Tokatokahau Point up to the high-tide area.

Under the CAN, it is illegal to remove any marine life (including fish, shellfish, koura (crayfish) or seaweed from the zone. This means any form of fishing is banned. This includes spearfishing, crayfishing, kina and other shellfish gathering, net fishing and drift fishing from any kind of vessel.

It is also illegal to take vessels or dive gear (for example, wetsuits, fins, tanks) into the controlled area for fishing.

No anchoring is allowed in the controlled area other than for a very few permitted activities such as for scientific research or where residents are reliant on a vessel for regular transport. For those activities, you'll need to get a permit from us. Anchoring in an emergency (for example, to shelter from weather) is allowed without a permit.

Permitting specifications for anchoring [PDF, 1.2 MB]

Permit application form for anchoring or moving vessels [PDF, 95 KB]

Map of Te Rāwhiti Inlet

Detailed caulerpa Controlled Area Notice map: Te Rāwhiti [PDF, 1.8 MB]

The controlled area extends from the western point of Mawhitipana Bay, north including Nani Island, northwest to 500 metres off Thompson Point and finishing at Waihihi Point on the eastern side of Onetangi Bay. It includes the marine waters of Onetangi Bay and Thompsons Point, Waiheke Island, up to and including the high-tide mark and to a depth of 22 metres.

Anchoring a vessel is permitted within the controlled area but cleaning requirements must be met before leaving the area. Instructions about this are below the map.

There are restrictions on some fishing activities within the controlled area that make contact with the seafloor (and can therefore spread exotic caulerpa). For example, you cannot use nets, dredging, bottom trawling, or potting. Fishing methods, such as line fishing from the shore or drift fishing from a vessel are allowed.

Map of Waiheke Island

Anchoring

In the controlled area, you can anchor a vessel. There are, however, legal requirements to clean the anchor, anchor chain, and any equipment used in the water before moving to another area.

Before leaving the Waiheke zone, check the anchor, chain, and any fishing or diving equipment for attached seaweed. Remove it and store it securely in a bag or container so it cannot get back into the sea, then dispose of it on land.

If it cannot be stored and disposed of securely on land, place it back in the waters directly where it came from in the Waiheke controlled area.

Wash down the above equipment with salt or freshwater to remove obvious signs of seaweed and, where possible, leave it to fully dry before using in another area.

Fishing

Within the controlled area, you can:

• line fish using a rod and line and handline from the shore or a wharf/jetty
• drift fish from a vessel – for example, kayak, boat
• spear fish and hand gather
• do shore-based longlining – for example with a kontiki or drone

Within this area, you cannot:

• fish for any seafood (fish, crayfish, shellfish) using any method that comes into contact with the seabed – for example, you must not use nets, dredging, bottom trawling, or pots.

Detailed Caulerpa Controlled Area Notice Waiheke Island map [PDF, 512 KB]