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Proposed amendments to certain commercial fishing disposal reporting codes

Have your say

Fisheries New Zealand is proposing amendments to the Fisheries (E-logbook User Instructions and Codes) Circular. The circular covers specific reporting requirements for commercial fishing permit holders, including codes available for the reporting of fish returned to the sea.

The proposed changes are to clarify how permit holders should report fish subject to a commercial catch restriction that must be returned to the sea. We also want to simplify reporting requirements for fish returned to the sea under “damaging/damaged” landing exceptions that must be balanced with annual catch entitlement.

The changes include:

  • introducing a new disposal code (FC) for quota management system (QMS) stocks and species with a commercial take restriction that must be returned to the sea 
  • introducing a new disposal code (BD) for QMS stocks and species that have a "damaging/damaged" landing exception and can be returned to the sea under a new Part 1D of the Landing and Discard Notice 
  • revoking disposal codes "M" and "Z".

Full details are in the consultation document. 

We're seeking feedback from tangata whenua and stakeholders on the proposed amendments. 

Consultation opened on 15 June and submissions close at 5pm on 15 July 2026. 

Consultation document

Proposed amendments to certain commercial disposal reporting codes [PDF, 251 KB]

Related documents

Fisheries (Reporting) Regulations 2017 – NZ Legislation

Fisheries (E-logbook Users Instructions and Codes) Circular [PDF, 3.6 MB]

Fisheries Act 1996 – NZ Legislation

Making your submission

Email your feedback by 5pm on 15 July 2026 to FMSubmissions@mpi.govt.nz

A template is available to help you complete your submission. It includes questions you may like to answer to help you with your submission and extra space for any other feedback.

Submissions template [DOCX, 87 KB]

While we prefer email, you can post written submissions to:

Fisheries Management – National Direction
Fisheries New Zealand
Ministry for Primary Industries
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140.

What to include

Make sure you tell us in your submission: 

  • your name and title 
  • your organisation's name (if you are submitting on behalf of an organisation)
  • your contact details (such as phone number, address, and email).

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

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