Have your say
The Aotea/Great Barrier Local Board and the Ngāti Rehua Ngātiwai ki Aotea Iwi Trust Board have requested that the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries implement local rock lobster management measures in the waters around Aotea Great Barrier Island that would affect both recreational and commercial fishers.
Fisheries New Zealand is seeking your feedback on the proposed measures.
Consultation started on 5 August and closes at 5pm on 4 September 2026. Once consultation closes, Fisheries New Zealand will analyse the submissions and prepare advice to support the minister's response to the request.
Background about the request
This request responds to concerns raised by residents and mana whenua that commercial and recreational rock lobster fishing effort will increasingly be displaced from the closed areas of CRA 1 (east coast of Northland) and the closed areas and the high-protection areas of CRA 2 (inner Hauraki Gulf) to Aotea Great Barrier Island, leading to the localised depletion of rock lobsters.
This consultation differs from many fisheries consultations in that the proposals have been developed by the board and the trust – it is not a package of measures proposed by Fisheries New Zealand. Rather, Fisheries New Zealand's role is to facilitate consultation, provide supporting analysis, and advise the minister on the merits of the proposal following consideration of submissions and direct engagement with key stakeholders.
What they have proposed
They have proposed 5 Aotea-specific management measures that would apply to spiny rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) and packhorse rock lobster (Sagmariasus verreauxi).
- Establish 6 recreational-only areas where commercial rock lobster fishing would be prohibited.
- Reduce the daily limit for recreational fishers.
- Introduce an accumulation limit for recreational fishers, with the limit set at a single day's catch. This would prevent recreational fishers from accumulating multiple days' catch.
- Introduce a maximum legal size for both commercial and recreational fishers.
- Introduce a closed season for both commercial and recreational fishers to coincide with autumn and winter mating seasons of these species.
It is proposed that these measures be implemented within a boundary one nautical mile from Aotea. Full details are in the consultation document.
Fisheries New Zealand seeks your feedback on the measures that have been proposed for Aotea, including whether:
- you are concerned about the long-term sustainability of rock lobster fishing at Aotea Great Barrier Island
- you support the implementation of the measures that have been proposed by the Aotea/Great Barrier Local Board and Ngāti Rehua Ngātiwai ki Aotea Iwi Trust Board
- there are other measures, or variations on the proposed measures, that you would like Fisheries New Zealand to consider that could support the long-term sustainability of rock lobster fishing at Aotea Great Barrier Island.
Consultation document
Proposed local rock lobster management measures at Aotea Great Barrier Island [PDF, 2.4 MB]
Supplementary documents
Map of Aotea Great Barrier Island and proposed management areas [PDF, 1 MB]
Government media release
Feedback sought on Great Barrier rock lobster – Beehive
Making your submission
Email your feedback by 5pm on 4 September 2026 to FMsubmissions@mpi.govt.nz
A template is available to help you complete your submission.
Submissions template [DOCX, 72 KB]
While we prefer email, you can post written submissions to:
Inshore Fisheries Management
Fisheries New Zealand
Private Bag 12031
Mount Maunganui
Tauranga 3116
New Zealand.
What to include
Make sure you tell us in your submission:
- the title of the consultation document
- your name and role
- your organisation's name (if you are submitting on behalf of an organisation, and whether your submission represents the whole organisation or a section of it)
- your contact details (such as phone number, address, or email).