Minister's decisions
Consultation has closed and the Minister for Primary Industries has made decisions on sustainability measures for selected fishstocks for the 2017 to 2018 fishing year beginning 1 October 2017. This includes decisions relating to total allowable catches (TACs), non-commercial allowances, total allowable commercial catches (TACCs), and deemed value rates.
The Minister's decision letter provides the details of, and reasons for, each of his decisions. Download the:
- Decision letter [PDF, 2.1 MB]
- Decision document - Review of sustainability controls for the 2017 fishing year [PDF, 11 MB]
- Submissions [PDF, 22 MB]
Summary of the Minister's decisions
| Area | Decision summary | |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand bluenose (BNS 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8) |
BNS 1 | Reduce the TAC from 351 tonnes to 251 tonnes, set the TACC at 251 tonnes, and set allowances for customary Māori of 2 tonnes, recreational of 15 tonnes, and other sources of fishing-related mortality of 4 tonnes. |
| BNS 2 | Reduce the TAC from 392 tonnes to 279 tonnes, set the TACC at 247 tonnes, and set allowances for customary Māori of 2 tonnes, recreational of 25 tonnes, and other sources of fishing-related mortality of 5 tonnes. | |
| BNS 3 | Reduce the TAC from 162 tonnes to 114 tonnes, set the TACC at 93 tonnes, and set allowances for customary Māori of 2 tonnes, recreational of 18 tonnes, and other sources of fishing-related mortality of 1 tonne | |
| BNS 7 | Reduce the TAC from 57 tonnes to 40 tonnes, set the TACC at 34 tonnes, and set allowances for customary Māori of 2 tonnes, recreational of 3 tonnes, and other sources of fishing-related mortality of 1 tonne | |
| BNS 8 | Reduce the TAC from 28 tonnes to 20 tonnes, set the TACC at 16 tonnes, and set allowances for customary Māori of 1 tonne, recreational of 2 tonnes, and other sources of fishing-related mortality of 1 tonne. | |
| West coast South Island red gurnard (GUR 7) | Increase the TAC from 919 tonnes to 1,062 tonnes, set the TACC at 975 tonnes, and set allowances for customary Māori of 15 tonnes, recreational of 25 tonnes, and other sources of fishing-related mortality of 50 tonnes. | |
| West coast South Island hake (HAK 7) | Reduce the TAC from 7,777 tonnes to 5,120 tonnes, set the TACC at 5,064 tonnes, and set allowances for customary Māori of 5 tonnes, recreational of 0 tonnes, and other sources of fishing-related mortality of 51 tonnes | |
| Puysegur orange roughy (ORH 3B) | Increase the TAC from 5,250 tonnes to 5,470 tonnes, set the TACC at 5,197 tonnes, and set allowances for customary Māori of 5 tonnes, recreational of 0 tonnes, and other sources of fishing-related mortality of 268 tonnes. | |
| Chatham Islands pāua (PAU 4) | Set the TAC at 204 tonnes, set the TACC at 196 tonnes, and set allowances for customary Māori of 3 tonnes, recreational of 3 tonnes, and other sources of fishing-related mortality of 2 tonnes. | |
| Earthquake-affected paua (PAU 3 and PAU 7) | PAU 3 | Set the TAC at 79.3 tonnes, set the TACC at 45.8 tonnes, and set allowances for customary Māori of 15 tonnes, recreational of 8.5 tonnes, and other sources of fishing-related mortality of 10 tonnes. |
| PAU 7 | Reduce the TAC from 133.6 tonnes to 121.8 tonnes, set the TACC at 84.2 tonnes, and set allowances for customary Māori of 15 tonnes, recreational of 12.6 tonnes, and other sources of fishing-related mortality of 10 tonnes | |
| Lower North Island red cod (RCO 2) | Increase the TAC from 500 tonnes to 554 tonnes, set the TACC at 500 tonnes, and set allowances for customary Māori of 5 tonnes, recreational of 24 tonnes, and other sources of fishing-related mortality of 25 tonnes. | |
|
Multiple stocks:
|
Increase interim deemed values for all listed stocks. In addition, annual deemed values have been decreased for RSK 8 and SSK 8 and increased for GLM 9, SCH 3, and TAR 8. Differential deemed values have been decreased for RSK 8 and SSK 8 and increased for GLM 9 and SCH 3. |
|
Background
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) sought feedback from tangata whenua and stakeholders on proposed changes to the sustainability measures and other management controls for selected fishstocks.
Consultation ran from 7 June 2017 until 7 July 2017.
Proposals
Reviews of catch limits and other management controls for selected stocks are undertaken annually. This is consistent with the requirement that MPI ensure the sustainable utilisation of fisheries resources.
The proposals for each stock were assessed in the context of the relevant statutory requirements and the best available information, including (where relevant) the latest scientific information on the status of the stocks, and tangata whenua and stakeholder input.
Consultation documents
Download the consultation document [PDF, 2.5 MB]
The stocks included for catch limit and allowance reviews were:
- Bluenose (BNS 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8)
- Red gurnard (GUR 7)
- Paua (PAU 3, 4 and 7)
- Red cod (RCO 2)
- Hake (HAK 7)
- Orange roughy (ORH 3B)
The stocks included for deemed value review were:
- Green-lipped mussel (GLM 9)
- Red cod (RCO 2)
- School shark (SCH 3)
- Skates (RSK 8, SSK 8)
- Tarakihi (TAR 8)
- Trevally (TRE 2)
If you can't open the document or would like a printed copy, email FMSubmissions@mpi.govt.nz
Making your submission
Consultation on the proposed changes closed at 5pm on 7 July 2017 .
Submissions are public information
Note that your submission is public information. Submissions may be the subject of requests for information under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA specifies that information is to be made available to requesters unless there are sufficient grounds for withholding it, as set out in the OIA. Submitters may wish to indicate grounds for withholding specific information contained in their submission, such as the information is commercially sensitive or they wish personal information to be withheld. Any decision to withhold information requested under the OIA is reviewable by the Ombudsman.
