Maps of NZ fisheries, and NABIS mapping tool

View maps of New Zealand fisheries, including commercial fishing, customary fisheries, and marine protected areas. Use the NABIS fishery mapping tool, and access the Open Geospatial Data Portal.

ONLINE PORTAL LAUNCHED 29 JANUARY 2020

Data coordinates for commercial fishing regulations

The online portal allows public access to spatial data relating to the commercial fishing regulations.

Updated data sets include coordinates for fisheries management areas, general statistical areas, and quota management areas.

The portal also has regulation information on current:

  • commercial fishing regulations (including closed seamount areas and PSH 71A approvals)
  • benthic protection areas
  • fishery notices (including temporary closures that are not S186 closures)
  • marine reserves Type 1
  • marine mammal sanctuary (one area closed for set netting)
  • ministerial decisions
  • submarine cables and pipeline protection zones.

Go to the online fishing data portal

The portal also has links to other government data relevant to the fishing industry. They include links to Land Information New Zealand (Exclusive Economic Zone and Topo50 Coastline) and the Department of Conservation (Marine Mammal Sanctuaries).

Data sets can be downloaded in several formats, such as Shapefile, KML, CSV and others. All data sets include full metadata. A step-by-step user guide is available to help you download the files.

NABIS mapping tool – create and view fishery maps

You can use our interactive mapping tool, NABIS, to make maps and get statistics for:

  • fishing areas for different stocks
  • commercial fishing events
  • fishing methods
  • some non-commercial fishing
  • restricted areas.

Create a map on NABIS

Commercial fishing – all methods

map of distribution of total commercial catch, all methods
Download a larger, printer-friendly version [PDF, 1.8 MB]

Commercial fishing – trawl

map of distribution of total commercial trawl catch
Download a larger, printer-friendly version [PDF, 1.8 MB]

Customary fisheries management areas

map of New Zealand customary fishing areas
Download a larger, printer-friendly version [PDF, 2.7 MB]

Recreational fishing (amateur and charter fishing vessels)


Download a larger, printer-friendly version [PDF, 7.7 MB]

The distribution of recreational fishing is indicated by combining data from flights and boat ramp surveys from 2005 to 2012, and statutory catch and activity returns from charter vessels from 2011 to 2014. The data from the activity returns is aggregated into grid squares of between 4km2 and 1000km2 as required to give 4-year annual average of data from at least 3 skippers. Data that could not be aggregated in this way was excluded. Aerial surveys have only happened in some regions, so the relative intensity of fishing between different regions is not accurately portrayed. The areas fished are indicative only. For more information, email info@mpi.govt.nz and contact the Fisheries Science Manager, Ministry for Primary Industries. Credits: Hypsometric relief supplied by Geographx. All Rights Reserved, © GeographX 2008. Coastline data sourced from LINZ. Bathymetric data sourced from NIWA.

Marine protected areas

Download a larger, printer-friendly version [PDF, 7.1 MB]

Fishing restrictions are current as at 30/09/2015. Credits: Hypsometric relief supplied by Geographx. All Rights Reserved, © GeographX 2008. Coastline data sourced from LINZ. Bathymetric data sourced from NIWA. Marine Reserve data sourced from DOC.

Who to contact

If you have questions about New Zealand fishery maps, email info@mpi.govt.nz

Last reviewed: