Following consultation, the Director of Fisheries Management has decided to temporarily close the waters around Ōkahu (Jackson Bay) and the Popotai Taumaka (Open Bay Islands) to the take of pāua between 1 December 2023 to 30 November 2024, inclusive.
Map of the Ōkahu temporary closure [PDF, 1.9 MB]
Map of the Popotai Taumaka temporary closure [PDF, 1.6 MB]
More information on customary fisheries management areas, rules, and maps
Pursuant to section 186B of the Fisheries Act 1996, Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio requested a further 1-year temporary closure of the pāua fishery for:
In July 2023, the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries declared the Popotai Taumaka (Open Bay Islands) and Ōkahu areas as mātaitai reserves. Further temporary closures were requested to protect the pāua fisheries in these areas until bylaws can be established.
Fisheries New Zealand invited written submissions on the requests from people who had an interest in the stock concerned or in the effects of fishing in the areas concerned.
All that area of South Island fisheries waters enclosed by a line of which every point is 1km from the mean high-water mark of the Open Bay Islands. The fisheries waters around Bignell Reef are included in the proposed area. It is approximately 5.7 square kilometres and approximately 4.3km offshore from the mainland.
Map of the proposed Popotai Taumaka temporary closure [PDF, 13 MB]
The application for the temporary closure at Popotai Taumaka [PDF, 152 KB]
The approximate area of the proposed temporary closure extends from Homminy Point to Neil's Beach, and includes Homminy Cove, Smoothwater Bay, Jackson Head, and Ōkahu/Jackson Bay.
All that South Island fisheries waters enclosed by a line:
The proposed area is approximately 10.6 square kilometres with an approximate 14.8km coastline.
Map of the proposed Ōkahu temporary closure [PDF, 1.6 MB]
The application for the temporary closure at Ōkahu [PDF, 197 KB]
A public notice calling for submissions on the proposed further closures at Popotai Taumaka (Open Bay Islands) and Ōkahu (Jackson Bay) was placed in the following publications.
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