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Review of recreational fishing measures – Fiordland Marine Area

Update – 17 July 2023

Decision on recreational fishing measures – Fiordland Marine Area

The Minister for Oceans and Fisheries recently approved the recommendations from the Fiordland Marine Guardians following public consultation.

The decisions include:

  • moving the line that demarcates the differential daily finfish and shellfish species limits
  • changing finfish and shellfish daily species and bag limits
  • no changes to amateur rock lobster regulations.

Decision paper for the Fiordland Marine Area [PDF, 1.4 MB]

Briefing paper on the Fiordland Marine Area [PDF, 487 KB]

Further consultation

The minister asked for further consultation on additional measures, including recreational boat limits and fishing methodology changes for commercial and recreational fishing. That consultation is open for submissions between 17 July and 28 August 2023.

Proposed further amendments to fishing regulations in the Fiordland Marine Area

Consultation background

Fisheries New Zealand sought feedback on proposed changes to recreational fishing rules for the Fiordland Marine Area under the Fisheries (Amateur Fishing) Regulations 2013.

About the proposed changes

The Fiordland Marine Guardians proposed changes to recreational fishing rules in the Fiordland Marine Area. 

Their proposal included:

  • Moving the line that demarcates the differential daily finfish and shellfish species limits: Increasing the size of the zones that have more restrictive limits from the designated Internal Waters of Fiordland (Habitat Lines) to lines that extend across the natural headland seaward entrances of each fiord
  • Changing the finfish and shellfish daily species and bag limits: Changing finfish and shellfish limits to encourage fishing effort on the productive outer coast zone
  • Changing the amateur rock lobster regulations: Reducing the total take of rock lobsters per fisher. Two options were proposed with a key difference, the position of the line that demarcates the limits.

A summary of the changes along with the full proposal were in the consultation documents.

Consultation documents

Proposed Amendments to Amateur Fishing Regulations in the Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) Marine Area – Summary Document [PDF, 787 KB]

Proposed Amendments to Amateur Fishing Regulations in the Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) Marine Area – Full Proposal [PDF, 473 KB]

Related information

Public consultation opens on proposed changes to Amateur Fishing Regulations in Fiordland – Fiordland Marine Guardians

Appendix 1: Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) fishing rules brochure [PDF, 2.3 MB]

Appendix 2: Summary of information supporting review of recreational fishing in the Fiordland Marine Area [PDF, 8.6 MB]

Appendix 3: Fiordland Amateur Charter Vessel (ACV) Workshop, 8-9 August 2019 – Meeting notes [PDF, 101 KB]

Appendix 4: Amateur Charter Fishing in Fiordland and Kaikōura: advice and recommendations from the Guardians [PDF, 587 KB]

Appendix 5: Fiordland Fishery Voluntary Code of Conduct [PDF, 381 KB]

Appendix 6: Fiordland Marine Guardians’ Engagement with Focus Group of Recreational Fishers Hui 6th and 7th March 2020 Report of outcomes [PDF, 311 KB]

Appendix 7: Survey of recreational fishers of the Fiordland Marine Area: short report [PDF, 1.4 MB]

Related information

Fisheries Act 1996 – NZ Legislation

Recreational daily bag limits and size restrictions for finfish [PDF, 363 KB]

Recreational fishing rules

National panel survey of marine recreational fishers

Fisheries (Amateur Fishing) Regulations 2013 – NZ Legislation

About the Quota Management System (QMS)

Draft National Inshore Finfish Fisheries Plan

Glossary of relevant terms

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