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Proposed separation of South Island eel stocks

Update – 31 May 2016

Minister's decisions

Following consultation, the Minister for Primary Industries has made a decision to separate South Island eel stocks (ANG 11 – 16) into longfin (LFE) and shortfin (SFE) stocks.

The changes will create separate quota management areas for shortfin and longfin eels using the existing geographical areas as the current combined longfin and shortfin (ANG) areas. The changes will allow for:

  • sustainability measures to be set in a way that takes into account the biological differences associated with each species
  • a more precautionary approach to be taken for longfin eels (the most vulnerable species)
  • a more effective and targeted response to sustainability risks for some South Island stocks

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Background to the consultation

Following a report by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, and an independent review to establish the status of longfin eels in New Zealand, the Minister for Primary Industries has decided to progress a package of management measures to improve the status of the longfin eel population.

As part of this package, MPI sought feedback from tangata whenua and stakeholders on proposed separation of South Island eel stocks. Consultation ran from Thursday 14 January 2016 until Friday 12 February 2016.

The proposals

The original proposals are outlined in the Discussion Document:

Making submissions

Consultation closed at 5pm on 12 February 2016.

Submissions could be sent to MPI by email or by post.

Email: FMSubmissions@mpi.govt.nz

Post: Attention: Duncan Petrie – Senior Analyst
Inshore Fisheries Management
Ministry for Primary Industries
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140.

Submissions are public information

Note, that your submission is public information. Submissions may be the subject of requests for information under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA specifies that information is to be made available to requesters unless there are sufficient grounds for withholding it, as set out in the OIA. Submitters may wish to indicate grounds for withholding specific information contained in their submission, such as the information is commercially sensitive or they wish personal information to be withheld. Any decision to withhold information requested under the OIA is reviewable by the Ombudsman.