Have your say
Fisheries New Zealand is seeking feedback on proposed changes to sustainability measures for a range of fish stocks as part of the 2026 October sustainability round. We invite feedback from tangata whenua, stakeholders, and the public on these proposed changes.
About the proposed changes
Fisheries New Zealand reviews catch limits for selected stocks twice a year. This is consistent with the purpose of the Fisheries Act 1996 to allow for sustainable utilisation.
Fisheries New Zealand is currently reviewing:
- Catch limits and allowances for:
- East Coast tarakihi (TAR 1E, 2, 3, 7E) – East Coast North and South Island
- West Coast tarakihi (TAR 1W, 7W, 8) – West Coast North and South Island
- Ling (LIN 1) – Northland, Auckland, Waikato, and Bay of Plenty
- Snapper (SNA 2) – East Cape, Hawke’s Bay, and Wellington
- Trevally (TRE 2) – East Cape, Hawke’s Bay, and Wellington
- Stargazer (STA 7) – West Coast and Top of the South Island
- Butterfish (BUT 7) – West Coast and Top of the South Island
- Shortfin eel (SFE 13) – Te Waihora (Lake Ellesmere)
- Pāua (PAU 7) – Marlborough
- Leatherjacket (LEA 3) – East Coast South Island, Southland
- Elephant fish (ELE 3, 5) – East Coast South Island, Southland, and Sub-Antarctic
- Pāua – (PAU 5D) – Southland and Otago
- Blue mackerel (EMA 7) – West coast North Island, west coast South Island
- Ling (LIN 7) – West Coast and Top of the South Island
- Gemfish (SKI 3) – East Coast South Island, Chatham Islands
- Frostfish (FRO 3) – East Coast South Island
- Scampi (SCI 3) – East Coast South Island, western Chatham Rise
- Alfonsino (BYX 3) – East Coast South Island, Chatham Islands
- Deemed value rates for:
- East Coast tTarakihi (TAR 1, 2, 3, 7) – East Coast, North and South Island
- West Coast tarakihi (TAR 1, 8, 7) – West Coast North and South Island
- School shark (SCH 3, 5) – East Coast South Island, Southland
- Parore (PAR 1, 9) – East and West Coast upper North Island
- Yellow-eyed mullet (YEM 1, 9) – East and West Coast upper North Island
All of the proposals in this round were assessed:
- in the context of the relevant statutory requirements
- using the best available information, including the latest scientific information on the status of the stocks and tangata whenua and stakeholder input.
Full details are provided in the consultation documents.
Summary of changes and consultation documents
The arrows in the 'Proposal' column indicate whether the proposed allowance is increasing (an up arrow) or decreasing (a down arrow).
TAC is an abbreviation of 'total allowable catch' and DV is an abbreviation of 'deemed values'.
Supporting document
Related information
Fisheries Act 1996 – NZ Legislation
Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act 2000 – NZ Legislation
About the Quota Management System (QMS)
Operational Guidelines for New Zealand's Harvest Strategy Standard [PDF, 843 KB]
The Deemed Values Guidelines [PDF, 896 KB]
National Fisheries Plan for deepwater and middle-depth fisheries [PDF, 1.4 MB]
Regional plan provisions and policy statements [PDF, 324 KB]
National Inshore Finfish Fisheries Plan
Making your submission
Fisheries New Zealand invites you to email your feedback on the proposals set out in the consultation documents by 5pm on 24 July 2026 to FMsubmissions@mpi.govt.nz
Templates are available to help you complete your submission. If you are submitting on the review for tarakihi stocks, there is a separate submission form provided in the link below labelled ‘Submission form – tarakihi’.
Submission form – tarakihi [DOCX, 83 KB]
While we prefer email, you can post written submissions to:
2026 Sustainability Review
Fisheries Management
Fisheries New Zealand
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140
New Zealand.
What to include
Make sure you tell us in your submission:
- the title of the consultation document
- your name and title
- your organisation's name (if you are submitting on behalf of an organisation, and whether your submission represents the whole organisation or a section of it)
- your contact details (such as phone number, address, and email).