On-board cameras for commercial fishing vessels

ROLLOUT UPDATE – November 2023

Priority Group 2 and 3 vessels went live with on-board cameras on 31 October 2023.

Priority Group 4 is next

If you are a fisher in Priority Group 4, you are the next group to go live with cameras on 16 January 2024. If they haven't already, someone from Spark's team will be in touch soon to arrange a time that suits you best to install your on-board cameras system.

Vessel owners in other Priority Groups

If you are a fisher in Priority Groups 5 to 10, updates on the go-live dates are available on this page. MPI or Spark will be in touch directly to let you know when it's your turn to have cameras installed and operating.

Check the go-live dates in our timeline

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 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

What gear is installed and on which vessels?

All inshore vessels using these “in-scope” fishing methods will have cameras installed:

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

Fisheries New Zealand has engaged Spark Business Group (Spark) to provide the technology, cameras, software, and transmission process.

More information for fishers about the installation process and gear installed

Timeline for the rollout of on-board cameras

Cameras are first being placed on vessels posing the greatest risk to protected species. Unless an exemption is issued by MPI (done on a case-by-case basis for individual vessels), cameras need to be installed and transmitting footage from the dates, areas, and in-scope fishing methods as outlined.

Note that the dates may be subject to change and will be updated on this page, as well as communicated directly to fishers well in advance of each priority group's go-live dates.

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]

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]

16 January 2024

Priority Group 4: All surface longline vessels fishing in any area.

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]

3 December 2024

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 (except those targeting scampi), fishing in any area.