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On-board cameras for commercial fishing vessels
The government is investing to get cameras installed on up to 300 commercial fishing vessels, covering around 85% of the total catch by volume of inshore fisheries in New Zealand. Find out more about the programme.
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Why on-board cameras?
Cameras have been used on commercial fishing vessels around the world for decades. We have learned a lot from overseas fisheries that are already using these systems. It's the next step towards a more data-driven and responsive fisheries management system, and a key part of the long-term health and resilience of our marine ecosystems. The independent information they provide supports the reputation of our fishing industry, the sustainability of our fisheries, and more confident management decisions.
On 17 June 2021, the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries announced that up to 300 inshore commercial vessels using "in-scope" fishing methods would be fitted with cameras. This followed an initial proof of concept that saw cameras placed on a few vessels in 2019. On 25 May 2022, the government confirmed the details of the wider rollout.
Rollout of cameras on fishing vessels to begin – Beehive.govt.nz
Which vessels are operating on-board cameras?
Unless a valid exemption is held, all inshore vessels using the following "in-scope" fishing methods must have cameras installed and provide footage of all commercial fishing activities (including setting, hauling, sorting, processing and returning fish to the sea).
- Trawl vessels less than or equal to 32 metres in length, except those targeting scampi.
- Set net vessels greater than or equal to 8 metres in length.
- Surface longline.
- Bottom longline.
- Purse seine.
- Danish seine.
Need cameras installed? Find out about the installation process
Timeline for the rollout of on-board cameras
Cameras were first being placed on vessels posing the greatest risk to protected species. Unless an exemption was issued by MPI (done on a case-by-case basis for individual vessels), cameras were installed and transmitting footage from the dates, areas, and in-scope fishing methods as outlined.
Expand all
Vessels Currently Required to Operate Cameras
From 1 August 2023
Priority Group 1 (non-proof-of-concept vessels): Trawl vessels less or equal to 32 metres in overall length (except those targeting scampi) and set net vessels greater than or equal to 8 metres in overall length, who have Spark cameras installed because of their intention to fish in the West Coast North Island area will, from 1 August 2023, be required to operate cameras and provide footage for trawl and set net fishing off the west coast of the North Island and the north, east and south coasts of the South Island.
Map of west coast of the North Island [PDF, 1.7 MB]
Map of the north, east and south coasts of the South Island [PDF, 1.8 MB]
Priority Group 1 (proof-of-concept vessels): These vessels have been operating proof-of-concept camera systems since 2019 when fishing off the west coast of the North Island. From 14 June 2023 this expanded to the north, east and south coasts of the South Island. These vessels will continue to use their existing system until Spark replaces it with Spark’s new system over the coming months. The new cameras system will be installed shortly.
Map of west coast of the North Island [PDF, 1.7 MB]
Map of the north, east and south coasts of the South Island [PDF, 1.8 MB]
From 31 October 2023
Priority Group 2: Set net vessels greater than or equal to 8 metres in overall length fishing off the north, east, and south coasts of the South Island.
Priority Group 3: Trawl vessels less than or equal to 32 metres in overall length fishing off the north, east, and south coasts of the South Island (except those targeting scampi).
Map of west coast of the North Island [PDF, 1.7 MB]
Map of the north, east and south coasts of the South Island [PDF, 1.8 MB]
From 16 January 2024
Priority Group 4: All surface longline vessels fishing in any area.
From 26 June 2024
Priority Group 5: Bottom longline vessels fishing in northern New Zealand in the fishery management area 1 – Auckland (East).
Map of Fisheries Management Area 1 – North Island [PDF, 1.6 MB]
From 3 March 2025
Priority Group 6: All remaining bottom longline vessels fishing in any area.
Priority Group 7: All remaining trawl vessels less than or equal to 32 metres in overall length, fishing in any area, except those targeting scampi.
From 28 May 2025
Priority Group 8: All remaining set net vessels 8 metres or longer, fishing in any area.
Priority Group 9: All purse seine vessels fishing in any area.
Priority Group 10: All Danish seine vessels fishing in any area.
On-board cameras user guides and resources
Spark's Quick Reference Guide [PDF, 535 KB]
Spark's Electronic Monitoring System Guide for On-board Cameras [PDF, 1.2 MB]
Guide for vessel owners and crew [PDF, 1.3 MB]
Frequently asked questions
Answers to questions about on-board cameras [PDF, 273 KB]
Cabinet papers, briefings, consultations, and financial analysis
B24-0023 – Overview of the rollout of on-board cameras on commercial fishing vessels [PDF, 1 MB]
1 April 2024 data update to B24-0023 [PDF, 760 KB]
Wider rollout of on-board cameras on commercial fishing vessels [PDF, 900 KB]
Regulatory impact statement: Wider rollout of on-board cameras [PDF, 1.8 MB]
Cost recovery: consultation on proposed fisheries and conservation services levies 2023/2024 [PDF, 536 KB]
Wider rollout of on-board cameras consultation: Summary of responses [PDF, 1.1 MB]
On-board camera regulations
Fisheries (Electronic Monitoring on Vessels) Regulations 2017 – NZ Legislation
Fisheries (Electronic Monitoring on Vessels) Amendment Regulations 2020 – NZ Legislation
Fisheries (Electronic Monitoring on Vessels) Circular 2022 [PDF, 273 KB]
Schedule 1 of the Fisheries (Electronic Monitoring on Vessels) Regulations 2017
Related pages
Exemptions for on-board cameras
On-board cameras installation process
The 2019 proof of concept for the rollout of on-board cameras
Digital Monitoring of Commercial Fishing
Contact us
If you have questions about on-board cameras for commercial fishing vessels, email onboardcameras@mpi.govt.nz
