Review of fishery sustainability measures – October 2026 round

Updates

27 October 2026: Tarakihi and butterfish limits come into effect from 1 November

As part of the minister's decisions on the October 2026 sustainability round:

a new daily limit of 10 tarakihi was set in the Auckland-Kermadec, Central, Challenger, and South-East fishing areas
a new daily limit of 5 butterfish was set in the Challenger area.

These changes come into effect from 1 November 2026. Check our fishing rules pages for more details (with updates for tarakihi and butterfish from 1 November).

Find the fishing rules for your area

1 October 2026: Summary table of the minister's decisions

Decisions on sustainability measures for all stocks, except for shortfin eel, come into effect from 1 October 2026.

Changes to catch limits for shortfin eel in Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere (SFE 13) take effect on 1 February 2027. 

Changes to recreational daily limits will be implemented as soon as practicable.

Catch limit reductions to support tarakihi stocks 2026 fact sheet [PDF, 691 KB]

Species	Stock/area	Change	Decision summary
Tarakihi (eastern and western stocks)	TAR 1 Northland, Auckland, Bay of Plenty and Waikato	TAC ↓ Recreational daily limit ↓	Decrease the TAC from 1,259 to 644 tonnes Decrease the allowance for recreational fishing from 110 to 35 tonnes Decrease the allowance for all other mortality to the stock caused by fishing from 98 to 49 tonnes Decrease the TACC from 978 to 487 tonnes Reduce the recreational daily limit from 20 to 10 per person per day
	TAR 2 Central North Island (East)	TAC ↓ Recreational daily limit ↓	Decrease the TAC from 1,387 to 1,172 tonnes Decrease the allowance for recreational fishing from 73 to 40 tonnes Decrease the allowance for all other mortality to the stock caused by fishing from 110 to 94 tonnes Decrease the TACC from 1,104 to 938 tonnes Reduce the recreational daily limit from 20 to 10 per person per day
	TAR 3 Sout East South Island	TAC ↓ Recreational daily limit ↓	Decrease the TAC from 793 to 619 tonnes Decrease the allowance for recreational fishing from 15 to 10 tonnes Decrease the allowance for all other mortality to the stock caused by fishing from 69 to 54 tonnes Decrease the TACC from 694 to 540 tonnes Reduce the recreational daily limit from 15 to 10 per person per day
	TAR 7 West Coast and Top of South Island (Challenger)	TAC ↓ Recreational daily limit ↓	Decrease the TAC from 1,121 to 483 tonnes Decrease the allowance for recreational fishing from 23 to 8 tonnes Decrease the allowance for all other mortality to the stock caused by fishing from 99 to 43 tonnes Decrease the TACC from 994 to 427 tonnes Reduce the recreational daily limit from 20 to 10 per person per day
	TAR 8 Central North Island (West)	TAC Recreational daily limit ↓	Set the TAC at 263.4 tonnes Set allowance for recreational fishing at 10 tonnes Set the allowance for all other mortality to the stock caused by fishing at 23 tonnes Retain the TACC at 225.4 tonnes Reduce the recreational daily limit from 20 to 10 per person per day
Ling, Hoka	LIN 1 Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty	TAC ↓	Decrease the TAC from 463 to 351 tonnes Decrease the allowance for recreational fishing from 40 to 10 tonnes Decrease the TACC from 400 to 318 tonnes
Snapper, Tāmure	SNA 2 East Cape, Hawke’s Bay and Wellington	TAC ↑	Increase the TAC from 585 to 875 tonnes Increase the allowance for all other mortality to the stock caused by fishing from 40 to 67 tonnes Increase the TACC from 409 to 672 tonnes
Trevally, Araara	TRE 2 East Cape, Hawke’s Bay and Wellington	TAC ↑	Increase the TAC from 387 to 660 tonnes Increase the customary Māori allowance from 1 to 6 tonnes Increase the allowance for all other mortality to the stock caused by fishing from 26 to 50 tonnes Increase the TACC from 260 to 504 tonnes
Stargazer, Pūwhara	STA 7 West Coast and Top of South Island	TAC ↓	Decrease the TAC from 1,017 to 583 tonnes Decrease the allowance for all other mortality to the stock caused by fishing from 46 to 28 tonnes Decrease the TACC from 966 to 550 tonnes
Butterfish, Mārari	BUT 7 West Coast and Top of South Island	TAC ↓ Recreational daily limit ↓	Decrease the TAC from 69 to 41 tonnes Decrease the allowance for recreational fishing from 15 to 10 tonnes Increase the allowance for all other mortality to the stock caused by fishing from 1 to 2 tonnes Decrease the TACC from 38 to 14 tonnes Reduce the recreational daily limit from 20 to 5 per person per day
Shortfin eel, Tuna	SFE 13 Te Waihora (Lake Ellesmere)	TAC ↓	Decrease the TAC from 171.94 to 90.82 tonnes Decrease the TACC from 134.12 to 53 tonnes
Pāua	PAU 7 Marlborough	TAC ↓	Decrease the TAC from 133.62 to 80 tonnes Decrease the allowance for recreational fishing from 15 to 8 tonnes Decrease the TACC from 93.62 to 47 tonnes
Leatherjacket, Kōkiri	LEA 3 East Coast South Island and Southland	TAC ↑	Increase the TAC from 224 to 388 tonnes Increase the allowance for all other mortality to the stock caused by fishing from 21 to 35 tonnes Increase the TACC from 200 to 350 tonnes
Elephantfish, Makorepe	ELE 3 East Coast South Island and Chatham Islands	TAC ↓	Decrease the TAC from 1,285 to 609 tonnes Decrease the allowance for recreational fishing from 15 to 10 tonnes Decrease the allowance for all other mortality to the stock caused by fishing from 115 to 54 tonnes Decrease the TACC from 1,150 to 540 tonnes
Elephantfish, Makorepe	ELE 5 Southland and Sub-Antartic	TAC ↓	Decrease the TAC from 188.5 to 79 tonnes Decrease the allowance for recreational fishing from 5 to 3 tonnes Decrease the allowance for all other mortality to the stock caused by fishing from 8.5 to 8 tonnes Decrease the TACC from 170 to 63 tonnes
Pāua	PAU 5D Southland and Otago	TAC ↓	Decrease the TAC from 134 to 113 tonnes Increase the customary Māori allowance from 3 to 10 tonnes Decrease the allowance for recreational fishing from 22 to 17 tonnes Decrease the TACC from 89 to 66 tonnes
Blue Mackerel, Tawatawa	EMA 7 West Coast North Island and South Island	TAC ↑	Increase the TAC from 5,081 to 6,096 tonnes Increase the allowance for all other mortality to the stock caused by fishing from 50 to 60 tonnes Increase the TACC from 5,025 to 6,030 tonnes
Ling, Hoka	LIN 7 West Coast South Island, Cook Strait and Taranaki	TAC ↓	Decrease the TAC from 3,458 to 2,317 tonnes Decrease the allowance for all other mortality to the stock caused by fishing from 68 to 34 tonnes Decrease the TACC from 3,387 to 2,280 tonnes
Gemfish, Tiikati	SKI 3 East Coast South Island and Chatham Islands	TAC ↑	Increase the TAC from 2,294 to 2,981 tonnes Increase the allowance for all other mortality to the stock caused by fishing from 23 to 29 tonnes Increase the TACC from 2,269 to 2,950 tonnes
Frostfish, Taharangi	FRO 3 East Coast South Island	TAC ↑	Increase the TAC from 82 to 765 tonnes Increase the allowance for all other mortality to the stock caused by fishing from 2 to 15 tonnes Increase the TACC from 80 to 750 tonnes
Scampi, Kōura rangi	SCI 3 East Coast South Island and Western Chatham Rise	TAC ↑	Increase the TAC from 428 to 525 tonnes Increase the allowance for all other mortality to the stock caused by fishing from 20 to 25 tonnes Increase the TACC from 408 to 500 tonnes
Alfonsino	BYX 3 East Coast South Island and Chatham Islands	TAC ↓	Set the TAC at 510 tonnes Decrease the TACC from 1,010.4 to 505 tonnes
School shark, Tupere Yellow-eyed mullet, Aua Parore	SCH 3 East Coast South Island	DVs ↓	Decrease interim, annual, and standard differential deemed value rates
	SCH 5 Southland	DVs ↑	Increase interim deemed value rates
	YEM 1 East Northland and Auckland	DVs ↑	Increase interim and annual deemed value rates Set standard differential deemed value rates
	YEM 9 West Northland and Auckland	DVs ↑
	PAR 1 East Northland and Auckland	DVs ↑	Increase interim and annual deemed value rates Set standard differential deemed value rates
	PAR 9 West Northland and Auckland	DVs ↑

22 September 2026: Minister's decisions released

Following consultation, the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries has made decisions on sustainability measures for selected fish stocks as part of the October 2026 sustainability round.

The minister's decision letter provides further details and reasons for each of these decisions.

Minister for Oceans and Fisheries decision letter [PDF, 1.5 MB]

The advice papers for each of the stocks reviewed in the October 2026 sustainability round and submissions received during public consultation will be released in the coming weeks.

Consultation background

Fisheries New Zealand sought feedback on proposed changes to sustainability measures for a range of fish stocks as part of the 2026 October sustainability round. We invited 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 reviewed:

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 were provided in the consultation documents.

Summary of changes and consultation documents

The arrows in the 'Proposal' column indicate whether the proposed allowance was 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'.

Species	Stock/area	Proposal	Consultation document
Tarakihi (eastern and western stocks)	TAR 1, TAR 2, TAR 3, TAR 7, TAR 8	TAC ↓ Recreational changes DVs ↑	Review of sustainability measures for tarakihi for 2026/27 [PDF, 2.6 MB] Appendix – Supporting information tarakihi [PDF, 2.3 MB] Review of sustainability measures for Tarakihi for 2026/27 – summary [PDF, 1.6 MB] Submission form - tarakihi
Ling	LIN 1	TAC ↓	Review of sustainability measures for ling (LIN 1) for 2026/27 [PDF, 1000 KB]
Snapper	SNA 2	TAC ↑	Review of sustainability measures for snapper (SNA 2) and trevally (TRE 2) for 2026/27 [PDF, 1.5 MB]
Trevally	TRE 2	TAC ↑
Stargazer	STA 7	TAC ↓	Review of sustainability measures for stargazer (STA 7) for 2026/27 [PDF, 1.4 MB]
Butterfish	BUT 7	TAC ↓ Recreational changes	Review of sustainability measures for butterfish (BUT 7) for 2026/27 [PDF, 931 KB]
Shortfin eel	SFE 13	TAC ↓	Review of sustainability measures for shortfin eel (SFE 13) for 2027/28 [PDF, 1 MB]
Pāua	PAU 7	TAC ↓	Review of sustainability measures for pāua (PAU 7) for 2026/27 [PDF, 1.1 MB]
Leatherjacket	LEA 3	TAC ↑	Review of sustainability measures for leatherjacket (LEA 3) for 2026/27 [PDF, 1.1 MB]
Elephantfish	ELE 3, ELE 5	TAC ↓	Review of sustainability measures for elephantfish (ELE 3 & ELE 5) for 2026/27 [PDF, 1.4 MB]
Pāua	PAU 5D	TAC ↓	Review of sustainability measures for pāua (PAU 5D) for 2026/27 [PDF, 1.2 MB]
Blue mackerel	EMA 7	TAC ↑	Review of sustainability measures for blue mackerel (EMA 7) for 2026/27 [PDF, 1 MB]
Ling	LIN 7	TAC ↓	Review of sustainability measures for ling (LIN 7) for 2026/27 [PDF, 1.6 MB]
Gemfish	SKI 3	TAC ↑	Review of sustainability measures for gemfish (SKI 3) for 2026/27 [PDF, 1.2 MB]
Frostfish	FRO 3	TAC ↑	Review of sustainability measures for frostfish (FRO 3) for 2026/27 [PDF, 1.2 MB]
Scampi	SCI 3	TAC ↑	Review of sustainability measures for scampi (SCI 3) for 2026/27 [PDF, 2.1 MB]
Alfonsino	BYX 3	TAC ↓	Review of sustainability measures for alfonsino (BYX 3) for 2026/27 [PDF, 1.1 MB]
Parore, Yellow-eyed mullet, School shark	PAR 1, PAR 9, YEM 1, YEM 9, SCH 5	DVs ↑	Review of deemed value rates for selected stocks for 2026/27 [PDF, 1.9 MB]
Parore, Yellow-eyed mullet, School shark	SCH 3	DVs ↓

Supporting document

Legal overview [PDF, 397 KB]

Related information

Fisheries Act 1996 – NZ Legislation 

Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act 2000 – NZ Legislation

About the Quota Management System (QMS)

The Harvest Strategy Standard

Operational Guidelines for New Zealand's Harvest Strategy Standard [PDF, 843 KB]

The Deemed Values Guidelines [PDF, 896 KB]

Glossary of relevant terms

National Fisheries Plan for deepwater and middle-depth fisheries [PDF, 1.4 MB]

Regional plan provisions and policy statements [PDF, 324 KB]

Fisheries Infosite

Fisheries Assessment Plenary

National Inshore Finfish Fisheries Plan

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