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Marlborough Sounds blue cod review – measures to reduce fishing pressure and improve fishery health

Update – 12 August 2025

Seasonal closure extended

Following this consultation, the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries has decided to extend the seasonal closure of the Marlborough Sounds Area recreational and commercial blue cod fishery (previously 1 September to 19 December inclusive) to 1 September to 10 January annually, effective for the upcoming 2025–26 summer and onwards.

The Minister's decision letter provides further details and rationale for this decision [PDF, 268 KB]

Public input from submissions has also been provided to the Minister on other potential measures. Fisheries New Zealand will provide additional advice once research and advisory group input has been received.

We will release this advice and the public submissions we received for this consultation in the coming weeks.

Educational material to help fishers ensure sustainability will also be updated before summer, including guidance on avoiding blue cod during closures and minimising release mortality.

Marlborough Sounds blue cod – responsible fishing guidelines [PDF, 1.6 MB]

Update – 20 December 2024

Submissions are being reviewed, with final advice to be presented to the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries in 2025.

Appendix – Posters presented at Marlborough Sounds blue cod public drop-in information sessions [PDF, 22 MB]

Consultation background

Fisheries New Zealand was seeking ideas and feedback on proposed changes to the blue cod (rāwaru) seasonal closure in the Marlborough Sounds (Te Tauihu-o-te-waka) to reduce fishing pressure. If approved, any changes would apply from the end of 2025 onwards.

Your input was also sought in developing a package of wider potential measures to ensure long-term sustainability of the fishery. Submissions were emailed or posted before 1 December 2024.

Public drop-in information sessions

During consultation, we held public drop-in sessions to present information, answer questions, and assist with making submissions. These were hosted by Fisheries New Zealand officials and Marlborough Sounds Blue Cod Technical Group members at:

Tasman Bay Cruising Club in Nelson/Whakatū on Tuesday, 12 November (4.30pm to 7.30pm)
Queen Charlotte Yacht Club in Picton/Waitohi on Thursday, 14 November (4.30pm to 7.30pm).

Appendix – Posters presented at Marlborough Sounds blue cod public drop-in information sessions [PDF, 22 MB]

About the proposed changes and potential measures

Marlborough Sounds blue cod are a taonga that play an important role in the local ecosystem and support an iconic fishery for many Kiwis.

Over the years, pressure on the stock has increased, with high fishing effort and cumulative stressors such as sedimentation, benthic disturbance, and marine heatwaves.

Independent surveys and reports from many fishers and long-time residents demonstrate low levels of abundance and a growing community concern about the sustainability of the stock. In 2021, a potting survey indicated that significant overfishing is very likely occurring and, retrospectively, has been for a significant time.

In response, the then Minister for Oceans and Fisheries in 2022 decided to cut the commercial catch limit, or TACC, and form a multi-sector group to identify measures to reduce fishing pressure.

This group (the Marlborough Sounds Blue Cod Technical Group) met throughout 2023 and provided the minister with a report of their findings. Fisheries New Zealand sought your feedback on a potential change to the seasonal closure in the Marlborough Sounds and your input in developing a package of wider measures to ensure long-term sustainability.

Consultation documents

Marlborough Sounds blue cod review [PDF, 1.5 MB]

Marlborough Sounds Blue Cod Technical Group Report [PDF, 941 KB]

Summary of proposals

Proposal to extend the seasonal closure (from December 2025)

Extending the seasonal closure to all blue cod take, from 1 September to 19 December currently, to 31 December, 5 January, or 15 January.

Potential measures that could be considered for a wider package

Spawning recovery areas, to rebuild spawning populations across the Sounds.
Reducing the combined daily bag limit from 20 finfish currently to 10 or 6 finfish.
A refreshed educational campaign – how can we maximise outreach and provide the right information for fishers to minimise their impacts?
Options to enhance fine-scale recreational fishing information – voluntary catch reporting, survey mailing lists, additional monitoring, or any other ideas.
Tools to mitigate predation and release mortality – what is your experience with these issues and potential solutions?

Related information

Submissions are public information

Note that all, part, or a summary of your submission may be published on this website. Most often this happens when we issue a document that reviews the submissions received.

People can also ask for copies of submissions under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA says we must make the content of submissions available unless we have good reason for withholding it. Those reasons are detailed in sections 6 and 9 of the OIA.

If you think there are grounds to withhold specific information from publication, make this clear in your submission or contact us. Reasons may include that it discloses commercially sensitive or personal information. However, any decision MPI makes to withhold details can be reviewed by the Ombudsman, who may direct us to release it.

Official Information Act 1982 – NZ Legislation

Marlborough Sounds blue cod review – measures to reduce fishing pressure and improve fishery health

Closing date

Contact

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