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Review of fisheries sustainability measures for 1 April 2016

Consultation update – 17 March 2016

Minister's decisions

Consultation has closed and the Minister for Primary Industries has made decisions on sustainability measures for selected fishstocks for the 2016-17 fishing year beginning 1 April 2016. This includes decisions relating to total allowable catches (TACs), non-commercial allowances, total allowable commercial catches (TACCs), and deemed value rates.

The Minister's decision letter provides the details of, and reasons for, each of his decisions. Decision documents and submissions received are available to download:

Summary of Minister's decisions

Area

Decision summary

Wellington/Hawkes Bay rock lobster (CRA 4)

Reduce the TAC from 662 to 592 tonnes, set the TACC at 397 tonnes, and maintain the allowances for customary Māori at 35 tonnes, recreational at 85 tonnes and other sources of fishing-related mortality at 75 tonnes.

The 15% TACC reduction was not formally consulted on and was recommended by the CRA 4 rock lobster industry during consultation.

Canterbury/Marlborough rock lobster (CRA 5)

Increase the TAC from 467 to 514 tonnes, retain the TACC of 350 tonnes, increase the recreational allowance from 40 to 87 tonnes, and maintain the allowances for customary Māori at 40 tonnes, and other sources of fishing-related mortality at 37 tonnes.

A new CRA 5 management procedure (“decision rule”) has been agreed for use in guiding CRA 5 TAC decisions for the next 5 years.

Southern rock lobster (CRA 8)

Maintain the current TAC of 1053 tonnes, the TACC of 962 tonnes, and the allowances for customary Māori at 30 tonnes, recreational at 33 tonnes and other sources of fishing-related mortality at 28 tonnes.

A new CRA 8 management procedure has been agreed for use in guiding CRA 8 TAC decisions for the next 5 years.

Westland/Taranaki rock lobster (CRA 9)

Maintain the current TAC of 115.8 tonnes, the TACC of 60.8 tonnes, and the allowances for customary Māori at 20 tonnes, recreational at 30 tonnes and other sources of fishing-related mortality at 5 tonnes.

Exploration of alternative management approaches for CRA 9 will be looked at in 2016.

Coromandel scallops (SCA CS)

Reduce the TAC from 131 to 81 tonnes, set the TACC at 50 tonnes, and maintain the allowances for customary Māori at 10 tonnes, recreational at 10 tonnes and other sources of fishing-related mortality at 11 tonnes.

Further work is planned to determine the long-term management approach for this shared fishery.

Surf clams in quota management area 7:

  • Deepwater tuatua (PDO 7)
  • Triangle shell (SAE 7)
  • Large trough shell (MMI 7)
  • Ringed dosinia (DAN 7)

Increase the TACs and TACCs for PD0 7, SAE 7, MMI 7 and DAN 7 surf clam stocks (see the decision letter and document for specific amounts).

For each stock, the customary Māori allowances are set at 5 tonnes, the recreational allowances are set at 1 tonne, and the allowances for other sources of fishing-related mortality are set at about 5% of the TAC.

Multiple stocks:

  • Coromandel scallops (SCA CS)
  • Giant spider crab (GSC 5)
  • Southern blue whiting (SBW 1)
  • Triangle shell (SAE 7)
  • Deepwater tuatua (PDO 7)
  • Sea cucumber (SCC 3)

Increase deemed value rates for SAE 7, PDO 7 and SCC 3 across the board and increase interim deemed value rates from 50% to 90% of the annual deemed value rate.

No changes for the current deemed rates for SCA CS, GSC 5 and SBW 1.


Background to consultation

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) sought feedback from tangata whenua and stakeholders on proposed changes to the sustainability measures and other management controls for selected fishstocks.

Consultation ran from 14 January 2016 until 11 February 2016.

Proposals

Reviews of catch limits and other management controls for selected stocks are undertaken annually. This is consistent with the requirement that MPI ensure the sustainable utilisation of fisheries resources.

The proposals for each stock were assessed in the context of the relevant statutory requirements and the best available information, including (where relevant) the latest scientific information on the status of the stocks, and tangata whenua and stakeholder input.

For rock lobster, the proposals that were developed were based on recommendations from the National Rock Lobster Management Group (the Minister for Primary Industries advisor on rock lobster management matters).

Consultation documents

Review of rock lobster sustainability measures for selected stocks [PDF, 930 KB]

The stocks include:

  • Wellington/Hawkes Bay rock lobster (CRA 4)
  • Canterbury/Marlborough rock lobster (CRA 5)
  • Southern rock lobster (CRA 8)
  • Westland/Taranaki rock lobster (CRA 9)

Review of sustainability controls for Coromandel scallops [PDF, 423 KB]

Review of sustainability controls for surf clam stocks in QMA 7 (PDO, SAE, MMI, DAN) [PDF, 314 KB]

Review of deemed value rates for selected stocks [PDF, 209 KB]

The stocks include:

  • Coromandel scallops (SCA CS)
  • Deepwater tuatua (PDO 7)
  • Giant spider crab (GSC 5)
  • Sea cucumber (SCC 3)
  • Southern blue whiting (SBW 1)
  • Triangle shell clam (SAE 7)

If you can't open the documents or would like printed copies, email FMSubmissions@mpi.govt.nz

Making your submission

Consultation on the proposed changes closed at 5pm on 11 February 2016.

Written submissions could be sent to MPI by email or post.

Email: FMSubmissions@mpi.govt.nz

Post: 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.