Proposed temporary fisheries closure at Moeraki, Otago

UPDATE – 31 July 2026

Decision announced

Following this consultation, Fisheries New Zealand has imposed a temporary closure of fisheries waters at Karerekautuku near Moeraki to prohibit the taking of all shellfish.

The closure takes effect from 3 August 2026 until 2 August 2028.

The closure covers approximately 1.3 square kilometres and includes all the fisheries waters extending offshore for 500 metres from the mean high-water mark along a stretch of coast starting at a point near the northern end of the Moeraki Boulders/Kaihinaki Walk and running southwards along Moeraki Beach to the headland at the eastern edge of Onekakara Bay.

Map of closure [PDF, 527 KB]

Fisheries (Karerekautuku Temporary Closure) Notice 2026 (Notice No. MPI 2027) [PDF, 61 KB]

Customary fisheries management areas, rules, and maps

Background to this consultation

Te Rūnanga o Moeraki requested a temporary closure of fisheries waters near Moeraki, Otago. The requested closure was to prohibit the taking of all shellfish, including crustaceans, for 2 years, under section 186B of the Fisheries Act 1996.

The request was intended to temporarily stop fishing pressure on the shellfish fisheries and, in particular, on tuaki (cockles), to give populations an opportunity to rebuild.

Fisheries New Zealand invited written submissions from anyone who had an interest in the fish stock concerned or in the effects of fishing in the area concerned.

This consultation opened on 4 March and closed at 5pm on 20 April 2026.

Request for the closure from Te Rūnanga o Moeraki

Covering letter [PDF, 427 KB]

Closure application from Te Rūnanga o Moeraki [PDF, 286 KB]

The proposed closure area

The area of the proposed Moeraki temporary closure covers about 1.3 square kilometres and includes the fisheries waters out to 500 metres offshore, starting near the northern end of the Moeraki Boulders/Kaihinaki Walk and extending southwards along Moeraki Beach to the headland at the eastern edge of Onekakara Bay.

Map of the proposed Moeraki temporary closure [PDF, 529 KB]

Public notice

A public notice about the call for submissions was scheduled to appear in the Otago Daily Times on 4 March 2026.

Related information

Section 186B of the Fisheries Act 1996 allows the Director-General of the Ministry for Primary Industries to temporarily close an area, or temporarily restrict or prohibit the use of any fishing method in respect of an area, if satisfied that the closure, restriction, or prohibition is likely to assist in recognising and providing for the use and management practices of tangata whenua in the exercise of non-commercial fishing rights.

Find out more about temporary closures

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Official Information Act 1982 – NZ Legislation

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