On 1 April 2014 changes to the rules for snapper in the Snapper 1 Region come into effect. The bag limit is changing to 7 snapper per fisher per day (previously 9), and the size limit is increasing to 30cm (from 27cm).
The Snapper 1 Region covers the East Coast between North Cape and Cape Runaway out to a distance of 200 nautical miles. There are no changes to the bag limits or minimum legal sizes outside this area. For bag and size limits in other regions, check your local fishing rules.
The changes to the Snapper 1 bag and size limits are part of a long term plan to improve New Zealand’s most valuable inshore finfish fishery. The changes will help improve the sustainability of snapper stocks and are part of a larger Snapper 1 management programme.
Every fisher can support New Zealand's fisheries through good fish handling practices. Gentle handling and careful return of unwanted or undersize fish contributes to the sustainability of the fishery through increasing survival rates. Simple steps like keeping fish in the water where possible, returning fish close to the surface of the water and removing hooks gently can all help improve a fish’s chance of survival after release. Advice on good fish handling practices is available through our website.
Fishing rules and restrictions can, and do change regularly. Fishers can keep themselves up to date with the rules by texting 'app' to 9889 and downloading our free NZ Fishing Rules app, free-texting the name of a species to 9889 for bag and size limits, visiting www.mpi.govt.nz , or collecting a brochure from their local MPI office (a full list of locations can be found on our website).
