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Commercial fishers landing exception: Pacific bluefin tuna

UPDATE – 29 FEBRUARY 2024

Fisheries (Landing and Discard Exceptions) Notice

The Minister for Oceans and Fisheries has agreed to provide for a landing exception for Pacific bluefin tuna. The exception allows commercial fishers to return Pacific bluefin tuna to the sea, when caught by surface longline and troll, if it is likely to survive.

The exception will come into effect on 1 March 2024.

The exception for Pacific bluefin tuna will be published in the Fisheries (Landing and Discard Exceptions) Notice as follows:

Pacific bluefin tuna may be returned or abandoned

  1. This clause applies to Pacific bluefin tuna taken from New Zealand fisheries waters, and all waters outside of New Zealand fisheries waters, if taken by surface longline or troll gear.
  2. A person who is a New Zealand national fishing against New Zealand’s national allocation of Pacific bluefin tuna may return a Pacific bluefin tuna to the waters from which it was taken if that person –
    • determines that the Pacific bluefin tuna is alive immediately prior to the return, and
    • determines that the Pacific bluefin tuna is without obvious major external injuries, and
    • returns the Pacific bluefin tuna as soon as practicable after it is taken.

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Background to exceptions

Under the Fisheries Act 1996, commercial fishers are prohibited from returning or abandoning to the sea, or other waters, any fish or shellfish that are subject to the Quota Management System (QMS). However, the Act allows for exceptions to the rule.

See section 72A(2) of the Fisheries Act 1996 – NZ Legislation

Consultation background

Fisheries New Zealand assessed whether a commercial landing exception should be provided for Pacific bluefin tuna. The proposed exception would allow commercial fishers to return Pacific bluefin tuna to the sea if the fish is likely to survive.

Pacific bluefin tuna are known to be a relatively robust fish, and have been estimated to have a high likelihood of post-release survival when caught and returned alive by surface longline and troll. Therefore, Fisheries New Zealand proposed that an exception is provided for, which would allow commercial fishers to return live Pacific bluefin tuna that is caught with surface longline and troll.

Consultation document

Commercial landing exception: Pacific bluefin tuna [PDF, 511 KB]

Related documents

Commercial landing exception reviews: Operational guidelines [PDF, 386 KB]

Commercial landing exceptions: Policy context and legal overview [PDF, 358 KB]

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