Support and innovation for commercial fishers and the seafood sector

Funding for innovation

The fishing industry is constantly adapting to change. It's important to consider what changes might mean for your business. The Primary Sector Growth (PSG) fund provides support on a co-investment basis to help you innovate and achieve your goals faster.

About the Primary Sector Growth fund

Māori Agribusiness funds

There are several funds available to Māori to develop innovative solutions to improve outcomes and create benefits for the Māori primary sector.

Find out more about these funds

Innovation Boost

From 22 May 2025, businesses can claim 20% of the cost of new assets as an expense, then claim depreciation as usual on the remaining 80%.

New assets - Investment Boost – Inland Revenue

Fishing vessel technology

Are money constraints making it hard to buy the equipment you need to do electronic catch and position reporting? Talk to technology providers to see if they can offer payment options.

Electronic catch and position technology providers

Search Seafood Innovations

Search international ICES-FAO working group on fishing technology and fish behaviour (WGFTFB) 2023 report  

Search Australian research and funding – The Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) 

Search innovation projects archive – UK Seafood Innovation Fund

Search American gear innovation projects – NOAA Fisheries

FishServe

FishServe can help with any permit holder-related questions. For example, they can help with your reporting requirements or access to your fishing data.

Contact FishServe

Seafood New Zealand

This non-profit organisation represents the recent merger of Fisheries Inshore New Zealand and the Deepwater Group to form an umbrella lead agency for the commercial finfish sector.

Seafood New Zealand works with, and for, fishers on engagement with government and others on operational matters, policy, legislation, and regulation that affects the industry. It also provides information and resources to support fishers on topics like dealing with harassment and bullying, managing environmental interactions, and communications support.

Its vision is to lead a thriving seafood industry that creates value for all New Zealanders from a healthy marine environment.

Seafood New Zealand

Te Ohu Kaimoana

Te Ohu Kaimoana Trust (the Māori Fisheries Trust) brings iwi together from across the country to deliver results by creating commonality that makes a positive and sustainable impact for whānau today, tomorrow and future generations. The oceans team works closely with iwi to pursue opportunities and address impacts in fisheries management (customary and commercial) aquaculture, and the ocean health space.

Te Ohu Kaimoana

New Zealand Federation of Commercial Fishermen Inc

This organisation represents the interests of owner-operator commercial fishers in New Zealand. The Federation represents its members' interests at national, regional, and local association levels. Where possible, it also represents its members' interests at an individual level.

New Zealand Federation of Commercial Fishermen Inc

New Zealand Rock Lobster Industry Council (NZ RLIC)

NZ RLIC is an umbrella organisation for the 9 commercial stakeholder organizations known as Cray Management Area Councils (CRAMACs). It represents CRA quota owners, processors, exporters, and fishermen (quota share owner-operators and annual catch entitlement (ACE) owners in each region.

NZ Rock Lobster Industry Council (NZ RLIC)

Pāua Industry Council

The Pāua Industry Council (PIC) is the peak national organisation representing the interests of pāua quota owners, ACE owners and other participants in New Zealand's commercial pāua fisheries. It provides advocacy, consultation, oversight and support to the 5 PāuaMACs (Management Area Councils) in their efforts to manage their fisheries in ways that ensure their long-term health and sustainability.

Pāua Industry Council Ltd

New Zealand Fishing Industry Guild

This is the fishers’ union that represents individual commercial fishing workers (as individuals) to ensure the best possible employment conditions and incomes. It promotes excellence in harvesting of inshore and deepwater fishing stocks in a sustainable and responsible manner.

New Zealand Fishing Industry Guild

Aquaculture New Zealand

This is the aquaculture industry's national representative organisation. Its members come from the mussel, salmon, and oyster farming industries. Its purpose is to support the sustainable growth of aquaculture in New Zealand.

Aquaculture New Zealand

There are many organisations that can help you prepare and support your business through challenging times and help it grow.

We've listed some organisations that can offer business support and advice, including:

• financial advice to help you make key decisions about your future
• essential business skill advice that could help improve your current practices
• essential business skill advice to help you to grow or change your business for the future.

Māori Business Growth Support

Te Puni Kōkiri manages the Māori Development Fund, which aims to advance the social, economic, and cultural development of Māori in ways consistent with Māori aspirations.

Grants are available to eligible kaitono (applicants) for a range of initiatives that support these aims, subject to available funding.

Māori Development Fund - Te Puni Kōkiri

Business Mentors New Zealand

Business Mentors New Zealand’s mission is to support business owners in advancing their business capability and capacity, to enjoy real, sustainable success – through the sharing of knowledge and experience from skilled business people who are able to gift their time and expertise.

Business Mentors New Zealand 

Regional Business Partners Network

The Regional Business Partners Network is there to support your business to grow.

Regional Business Partners Network 

These government and other agencies provide information and services around business and employment.

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE)

MBIE has information to help you explore other ways to support your business. This includes finding ways to improve your finances.

Getting financial advice – Business.govt.nz

Inland Revenue

Inland Revenue has information for businesses that are losing money. This includes how you can use a loss to reduce future taxable income.

My business is making a loss – Inland Revenue

Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ)

WINZ is the branch of the Ministry of Social Development (MSD). It offers support services for businesses that experience any change, such as downsizing. They can work with you before and after business changes to help your employees with any transition.

How we can help – MSD

WINZ also has information on Jobseeker Support. You can apply for Jobseeker Support online. 

Jobseeker Support – Work and Income

Heartland Services

Heartland Services is a branch of MSD. It helps people living rurally with a wide range of government services. There are 28 service centres around the country. You can access services and information there, and arrange meetings with government agency representatives.

Heartland Services

Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB)

The CAB offers free, confidential, independent information and advice to New Zealanders. They cover topics like employment and business, money, health, and wellbeing. You can search for topics on their website, visit a local branch (no appointment needed), or call them on 0800 36 72 22

Citizens Advice Bureau

FirstMate New Zealand, is a free, confidential service available for commercial fishers, aquaculture farmers, and their whānau.

It is operated by people from within the sector who understand the challenges that you might be facing.

FirstMate can be reached any day between 7am and 10pm by calling 0800 ADRIFT (0800 237 438).

They can talk you through anything that’s worrying you, and help with business advice, counselling, and a range of other services.

You can also contact FirstMate through its website.

FirstMate New Zealand 

Reach out to your usual supports – family and whānau, friends, and workmates. Sharing how you feel and offering support to others is important.

If you feel you are not coping, it's important to talk with a health professional.

The best place to get help is your general practitioner (GP) or local mental health provider.

Accessing mental health services – Mental Health Foundation

Lifeline

Call 0800 543 354 (0800 LIFELINE).

You can also free text 4357 (HELP) – available 24/7.

0800 WHATSUP

Call 0800 942 878  (0800 WHATSUP). The service is open from 11am to 11pm.

You can also chat online from 11am to 10.30pm on its webiste: www.whatsup.co.nz

Depression Helpline

Text 4202 or call 0800 111 757

Call or text 1737 any time

Helplines and support – Mental Health Foundation