Review of sustainability measures for fisheries – April 2023 round

Rock Lobster

CRA 1

Northland

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Rock lobster stocks support important shared fisheries. Rock lobsters are ecologically important, a taonga for tāngata whenua, a popular species for recreational fishers to catch, and support valuable export markets, regionally important industries, and employment. Fisheries New Zealand, with input from the National Rock Lobster Management Group (NRLMG), is consulting on possible changes to sustainability measures for rock lobster in CRA 1 for the 1 April 2023 fishing year. This review follows a recent High Court judgment in relation to catch limit decisions made for CRA 1 in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 fishing years. Fisheries New Zealand is proposing options to reduce the TAC, allowances, TACC and recreational daily limit in accordance with the findings in the judgment.

Scallops

SCA CS

Coromandel Hauraki Gulf, and Western Bay of Plenty

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Area closure under s 11 of the Act

The Coromandel scallop stock supports a shared fishery which is highly valued by tangata whenua and stakeholders. Most of SCA CS was closed to fishing from 1 April this year due to sustainability concerns, with 2 discrete areas left open to fishing (one at Little Barrier Island and one in the Colville Channel). Camera-based surveys carried out this year in these areas have shown serious declines in scallop abundance for both sites since the last surveys in 2021. Because of these declines, the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries has decided to implement an emergency measure under section 16 of the Fisheries Act 1996 to immediately close these areas to fishing. This measure has been implemented to mitigate the risk of further impact from fishing activity on remaining scallop populations and habitat over the upcoming summer period until longer-term measures are in place. Fisheries New Zealand is now consulting on longer-term measures to support the recovery and sustainability of scallops in SCA CS after the emergency measure has lapsed. This includes options to close both areas under section 11 of the Fisheries Act, and an option to change the TAC, allowances, and TAC of SCA CS from the 1 April 2023 fishing year.

Pāua

PAU 2

East Cape, Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa, Wellington, and Taranaki

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PAU 2 is a shared fishery highly valued by customary Māori, recreational, and commercial fishers. The stock covers a large area – all of the lower and central North Island. Fisheries New Zealand is proposing to set a TAC and allowances for the 1 October 2023 fishing year, noting that only a TACC is currently set. Fisheries New Zealand is also proposing options to address recreational harvest pressure following concerns of localised depletion across many areas.

Kina

Tory Channel, Marlborough Sounds

Prohibition of dredging under s 11 of the Act

Benthic habitats in the Tory Channel support significant marine communities which provide shelter, protection, and resources for a range of marine species, including taonga and species of importance to fisheries. Fisheries New Zealand is seeking feedback on whether commercial kina dredging in Tory Channel should be prohibited under section 11 Sustainability Measures of the Fisheries Act 1996. This prohibition would aim to avoid, remedy, or mitigate any adverse effects of this fishing method on the aquatic environment and to maintain biological diversity in the area.