Have your say
Fisheries New Zealand is consulting on proposed changes to sustainability measures for a range of fish stocks as part of the October 2022 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 requirement that Fisheries New Zealand ensures the sustainable use of fisheries resources.
In this round Fisheries New Zealand is consulting on changes to catch limits, allowances and deemed values for 20 different fish stocks around the country, and on standalone deemed value changes for an additional 5 fish stocks.
The proposals for each stock 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 in the consultation documents. We've also prepared a summary of the proposals
Consultation documents
- Review of Sustainability Measures for Hoki (HOK 1) for 2022/23 [PDF, 1 MB]
- Review of Sustainability Measures for Scampi (SCI 1) for 2022/23 [PDF, 551 KB]
- Review of Sustainability Measures for Gemfish (SKI 3 and SKI 7) for 2022/23 [PDF, 788 KB]
- Review of Sustainability Measures for Blue Warehou (WAR 2 and WAR 8) for 2022/23 [PDF, 1.2 MB]
- Review of Sustainability Measures for Rough Skate (RSK 8) and Smooth Skate (SSK 8) for 2022/23 [PDF, 974 KB]
- Review of Sustainability Measures for Blue Cod (BCO 7) for 2022/23 [PDF, 974 KB]
- Review of Sustainability Measures for the FMA 7 mixed trawl fishery (Snapper - SNA 7, Rig - SPO 7 and Red Gurnard - GUR 7) for 2022/23 [PDF, 1.3 MB]
- Review of Sustainability Measures for Red Gurnard (GUR 3) for 2022/23 [PDF, 1.3 MB]
- Review of Sustainability Measures for Rig (SPO 3) for 2022/23 [PDF, 765 KB]
- Review of Sustainability Measures for Attached Bladder Kelp (KBB 3G and KBB 4G) for 2022/23 [PDF, 793 KB]
- Review of Deemed Value Rates for Selected Stocks for 2022/23 [PDF, 1.2 MB]
Related consultation
Fisheries New Zealand is running a separate consultation on changes to East Coast tarakihi stocks (TAR 2, TAR 3 and the east portions of TAR 1 and TAR 7) for the 1 October 2022 fishing year.
Review of east coast tarakihi sustainability measures for 1 October 2022
Summary of the proposals
Table 1: Summary of stocks proposed for reviews of catch limits, allowances and deemed values as part of the 1 October 2022 sustainability round.
Hoki |
HOK 1 - All of New Zealand (excludes Kermadec) |
↓ |
The 2022 HOK 1 stock assessment estimated the western stock to be below the management target range (35-50% B0). Fisheries New Zealand is proposing an option to decrease the Total Allowable Catch (TAC), Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) and western stock catch limit of HOK 1 to move the western stock back within the target management range in a shorter timeframe. |
Scampi
|
SCI 1 - East Coast of Auckland and Northland, Bay of Plenty |
↑ |
An updated Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) analysis indicates that scampi abundance in SCI 1 has increased since 2019, and in its last accepted assessment, the stock was estimated as very likely to be above management target. Fisheries New Zealand is proposing options to increase the TAC and TACC for SCI 1 to provide for greater utilisation. |
Gemfish
|
SKI 3 & 7 - Entire South Island, Chatham Rise, West Coast off Taranaki and Wellington |
↑ |
CPUE analyses have suggested an increase in biomass of SKI 3 and SKI 7 in recent years. The TACs and TACCs of both stocks were increased in 2019 and in 2021. Since those increases were implemented, landings have continued to increase, and the best available information indicates that biomass is likely to continue to increase. Fisheries New Zealand is proposing options to increase the TACs and TACCs of SKI 3 and SKI 7 to enable greater utilisation of the stocks. |
Rough and smooth skates |
RSK 8 & SSK 8 |
↑ |
Catches of RSK 8 have been consistently above the TACC since the stock’s introduction to the QMS in 2003. Catches for SSK 8 have exceeded the TACC since 2007/08 and have been particularly high in the past five years. These trends in catches could suggest that there is an opportunity to provide for increased utilisation and that the current TACCs may no longer be appropriate. Fisheries New Zealand is proposing options to increase the TACs, TACCs and deemed values for both RSK 8 and SSK 8 to align with recent trends in the fisheries and provide for greater utilisation. |
Blue warehou
|
WAR 2 & WAR 8 Taranaki, Wellington, East Cape, Hawke’s Bay |
↓ |
Commercial landings WAR 2 and WAR 8 have been trending downwards over the past decade and in the last fishing year, WAR 2 and WAR 8 landings were <10% and 30% of the TACC, respectively. While current catch levels are unlikely to pose sustainability risks, there is uncertainty as to whether catches would be sustainable if the TACCs were fully utilised. Fisheries New Zealand is proposing options to set the TACs and allowances for WAR 2 and WAR 8 and decrease the TACC to ensure catches remain sustainable in the future. |
West Coast South Island multi-species (snapper, red gurnard and rig) |
SNA 7, GUR 7 & SPO 7 |
– / ↑ |
Recent stock assessments and other information suggests that there is an opportunity to provide for greater utilisation of SNA 7 and GUR 7. Rig is caught as associated bycatch in these fisheries, so an adjustment to management settings of SPO 7 may also be appropriate in line with changes to utilisation of those stocks. Fisheries New Zealand is proposing options to increase the TACs and TACCs of SNA 7 and GUR 7, and an option to adjust the TAC, allowances and TACC for SPO 7 in line with best available information on the fishery. |
Blue cod |
BCO 7 - West Coast and Top of South Island |
↓ |
BCO 7 is an important domestic shared fishery. While recent surveys suggest the overall abundance of blue cod has remained fairly stable since 2017, the fishery is below the target biomass and all indicators point to fishing pressure reducing the size and abundance of blue cod in the main fishing area of the Marlborough Sounds. Fisheries New Zealand is proposing options to set the TAC and allowances of BCO 7, and to decrease the TACC to reduce fishing pressure. Fisheries New Zealand is also seeking feedback on whether other measures, such as extending the closed season or voluntary approaches, would help recovery of the stock towards its management target. |
|
GUR 3 East Coast South Island, Chatham Rise, Southland, Sub-Antarctic, Rakiura and Fiordland |
↑ |
Recent assessments for East Coast South Island trawl species indicate that the GUR 3 stock has continued to increase in abundance since the stock was last reviewed in October 2020 and there is an opportunity to provide for greater utilisation. Fisheries New Zealand is proposing options to increase the TAC, TACC, and allowances for GUR 3 to enable greater utilisation of the stock. |
Rig |
SPO 3 East Coast South Island, Chatham Rise, Southland, Sub-Antarctic, Rakiura and Fiordland |
↑ |
Recent assessments and biomass estimates for rig in SPO 3 are variable and uncertain, however, they indicate biomass in SPO 3 could be increasing. Fisheries New Zealand is seeking feedback on whether there is an opportunity for a modest increase in the TAC and TACC of SPO 3. |
Attached bladder kelp
|
KBB 3G & 4G - East coast and Chatham Islands |
↓ |
Bladder kelp has an important role in coastal and marine ecosystems and provides critical habitat for other important marine species. Information since these stocks were included in the QMS suggests the spatial extent of the kelp beds in KBB 3G and 4G has declined. Fisheries New Zealand is proposing options to lower the TACs and TACCs for KBB 3G and 4G to ensure that commercial harvests remain sustainable in the future. |
Species |
Stock (area) |
Proposal |
Rationale for review |
---|
Table 2: Summary of stocks proposed for standalone deemed value reviews as part of the 1 October 2022 sustainability round.
Snapper |
SNA 2 – East Cape, Hawke’s Bay, Wellington |
↓ |
SNA 2 deemed value rates are much than rates for the adjacent SNA 8 stock and there are no sustainability concerns with this stock. A reduction in deemed value is being proposed to account for these factors. |
Trevally
|
TRE 1 - East Coast of Northland, Auckland and Bay of Plenty |
↑ |
Landed price for TRE 1 has more than doubled in the last five years while deemed value rates have remained unchanged. An adjustment to TRE 1 deemed value rates is being proposed to account for these factors. |
Kingfish
|
KIN 3 – East Coast South Island, Southland and Sub-Antarctic |
↓ |
Ongoing range expansion of kingfish means that the current deemed value rates for KIN 3 may not create appropriate incentives for fishers to land catch. As a result, an adjustment to the KIN 3 deemed value rate is proposed. |
KIN 7 & KIN 8 - |
↓ |
Deemed value rates for KIN 7 and 8 are well above landed price and may not create appropriate incentives for fishers to land catch. An adjustment is being proposed to account for these factors. |
|
Species |
Stock (area) |
Proposal |
Rationale for review |
---|
Making your submission
Fisheries New Zealand invites you to make a submission on the proposals set out in the consultation documents, using the submission form template.
Submissions close at 5pm on Friday 22 July 2022.
Submissions form [DOCX, 74 KB]
Email your completed form to FMsubmissions@mpi.govt.nz
While we prefer email, you can post written submissions to:
2022 Sustainability Review
Fisheries Management
Fisheries New Zealand
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140
New Zealand.
If you require hard copies of the consultation document or any other information, email FMsubmissions@mpi.govt.nz
Note that consultation on East Coast tarakihi commenced earlier on 7 June and submissions on tarakihi close at 5pm on Tuesday 12 July 2022.
Legal overview
Our legal overview of sustainability measures provides the main legal requirements as they relate to decision-making on sustainability measures. It also references the relevant provisions in the Fisheries Act 1996.
Legal overview of sustainability measures [PDF, 287 KB]
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, 1.4 MB]
National Fisheries Plan for deepwater and middle-depth fisheries [PDF, 1.4 MB]
Submissions are public information
Note that all, part, or a summary of your submission may be published on this website. Most often this happens when we issue a document that reviews the submissions received.
People can also ask for copies of submissions under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA says we must make the content of submissions available unless we have good reason for withholding it. Those reasons are detailed in sections 6 and 9 of the OIA.
If you think there are grounds to withhold specific information from publication, make this clear in your submission or contact us. Reasons may include that it discloses commercially sensitive or personal information. However, any decision MPI makes to withhold details can be reviewed by the Ombudsman, who may direct us to release it.