Update – 30 April 2025
The Minister for Oceans and Fisheries has amended the rules that permit commercial fishers to return southern bluefin tuna to the sea when they are likely to survive. The amended landing exception allows commercial fishers to return southern bluefin tuna to the sea, only when caught by surface longline and troll, subject to certain conditions.
The exception comes into effect on 1 May 2025.
The exception for southern bluefin tuna will be published in the Fisheries (Landing and Discard Exceptions) Notice as follows:
Southern bluefin tuna may be returned or abandoned
- This clause applies to southern bluefin tuna taken by surface longline or troll gear.
- A commercial fisher may return a southern bluefin tuna to the waters from which it was taken if that person:
- determines that the southern bluefin tuna is alive immediately prior to the return, and
- determines that the southern bluefin tuna is without obvious major external injuries, and
- returns the southern bluefin tuna as soon as practicable after it is taken.
Update – 15 February 2024
The related document was added to the consultation documents list:
- Estimation of release survival of pelagic sharks and fish in New Zealand commercial fisheries
