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Proposed temporary closure over an area adjoining the Ōpihi Mātaitai Reserve, Canterbury, to the take of all species

Your views sought

Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua has requested a temporary closure over an area adjoining the Ōpihi Mātaitai Reserve, Canterbury, to the take of all species.

The request is for a one-year closure.

Fisheries New Zealand invites written submissions on the request from persons who have an interest in the stock concerned or in the effects of fishing in the area concerned.

Find out more about temporary closures

What's being proposed?

The approximate area of the proposed temporary closure includes the streams, creeks, and bodies of water that adjoin the southwest corner of the Ōpihi Lagoon area, as defined in the Fisheries (Notification of Ōpihi Mātaitai Reserve and Tangata Tiaki/Kaitiaki) Notice 2014.

Map of the proposed Ōpihi temporary closure [PDF, 200 KB]

The application for the temporary closure at Ōpihi [PDF, 551 KB]

Making your submission

The closing date for submissions is 5pm on Monday, 19 July 2021.

Email your submission to FMSubmissions@mpi.govt.nz

While we prefer email, you can post your submission to:

Fisheries Management - Spatial Planning and Allocations
Fisheries New Zealand
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140.

Public notices about this consultation

Public notices calling for submissions are scheduled to appear as follows:

The Press and The Timaru Herald

  • Wednesday, 26 May 2021
  • Wednesday, 9 June 2021

The Timaru Courier

  • Thursday, 27 May 2021
  • Thursday, 10 June 2021

Background to the request

Section 186B provides that the Director-General may temporarily close an area of South Island fisheries waters, or temporarily restrict or prohibit the use of any fishing method in respect of an area if satisfied that the closure, restriction, or prohibition:

  • will assist in replenishing the stocks concerned, or
  • recognise and provide for the use and management practices of tangata whenua in the exercise of non-commercial fishing rights.

Temporary closures apply to recreational, commercial and customary fishing.

Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua consider that a temporary closure will:

  • replenish the stocks of the species of fish, aquatic life, or seaweed in the area, and
  • assist in recognising and making provision for the use and management practices of tāngata whenua in the exercise of non-commercial fishing rights.

Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua also consider that a temporary closure will serve as a ‘customary management’ education area to support a better understanding of customary approaches and practices for building resilient freshwater/brackish ecosystems.

Submissions are public information

Note that any submission you make becomes public information. People can ask for copies of submissions under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA says we have to make submissions available unless we have a good reason for withholding it. That is explained in sections 6 and 9 of the OIA.

Tell us if you think there are grounds to withhold specific information in your submission. Reasons might include that it's commercially sensitive or it's personal information. However, any decision Fisheries New Zealand makes to withhold information can be reviewed by the Ombudsman, who may tell us to release it.