Blue cod fishing closed until 10 January
Blue cod in the Marlborough Sounds are under pressure and the closed season has been extended to give them time to recover.
No blue cod can be taken between 1 September and 10 January inclusive. (Previously, the closed season ended on 19 December).
Ways you can help the fishery to recover
During the closed season, and when fishing resumes, reducing release mortality is vital to helping the fishery recover. You can do your part by making some small changes to minimise disturbance to blue cod.
Fish away from blue cod habitat
- Target other species, which can be found away from blue cod habitat (rocky reef margins), like gurnard, kahawai, snapper, or kingfish. Talk to your local fishing store for advice.
- Use large (6/0+) circle hooks to avoid catching small blue cod and gut-hooking.
- Move fishing spots if you are catching blue cod during closures or lots of small fish.
Follow best handling and release practices
- Remove hooks in the water where possible.
- Minimise handling time.
- Use wet hands and cool surfaces when handling is necessary.
Read the responsible blue cod fishing guidelines [PDF, 1.5 MB]
Learn techniques to avoid shags eating returned blue cod
- Learn about techniques other fishers are using to address this.
- Move on when shags become a problem.
Article - Fishers around the country innovating to reduce blue cod release mortality [PDF, 2.4 MB]
Reasons the fishery is under pressure
Key issues include:
- High fishing pressure – this is a popular fishing destination, leading to localised depletion.
- a reduction of mature fish numbers that can prompt females to change to male, reducing spawning capacity.
- High release mortality from hook choices, handling, and predation by shags.
- Sedimentation, marine heatwaves, kina barrens, and seafloor disturbance have contributed to habitat degradation.
Posters on the fishery issues and review presented at 2024 public information sessions [PDF, 22 MB]
What we're doing to help the blue cod fishery recover
While the closed season has been extended, all other rules for blue cod remain the same.
However, we're developing a package of wider potential measures to ensure long-term sustainability of the fishery. The additional measures being considered include local area closures to increase numbers of large fish vital for sustaining the fishery. More research is also underway on abundance, sex ratios, release mortality, and recreational fishing trends.
You can keep up to date by checking for updates on our consultation web page, or by signing up to the recreational fisheries mailing list.
Consultation: Marlborough Sounds blue cod review
Sign up to our recreational fisheries mailing list
Map of the Sounds and boundary coordinates for the blue cod closure
