UPDATE – 26 MARCH 2018
Minister's decisions
Consultation has closed and the Minister of Fisheries has made decisions on sustainability measures for 4 rock lobster stocks, 2 sea cucumber stocks, and one southern blue whiting stock for the 2018/19 fishing year beginning 1 April 2018. This includes decisions relating to total allowable catches (TACs), non-commercial allowances, and total allowable commercial catches (TACCs).
The minister's decision letter provides the details of, and reasons for, each of his decisions. Download the:
- Minister's decision letter [PDF, 677 KB]
- SCC/SBW decision document [PDF, 8.4 MB]
- Rock lobster decision document [PDF, 1.7 MB]
- Submissions (Appendix 2 of rock lobster decision document) [PDF, 10 MB]
In summary, the minister has decided to:
| Area | Decision summary |
|---|---|
|
Hauraki Gulf/Bay of Plenty rock lobster (CRA 2) |
Reduce the TAC from 416.5 to 173 tonnes, set the TACC at 80 tonnes, and set allowances for customary Māori of 16.5 tonnes, recreational of 34 tonnes, and other sources of fishing-related mortality of 42.5 tonnes. This action is expected to double current rock lobster abundance in approximately 4 years. A package of other management and monitoring measures will be produced during 2018 to further support a rebuild of the CRA 2 fishery. |
|
Wellington/Hawke’s Bay rock lobster (CRA 4) |
Increase the TAC from 484 to 513.8 tonnes, set the TACC at 318.8 tonnes, and maintain the allowances for customary Māori at 35 tonnes, recreational at 85 tonnes, and other sources of fishing-related mortality at 75 tonnes. |
|
Otago rock lobster (CRA 7) |
Reduce the TAC from 132.52 to 117 tonnes, set the TACC at 97 tonnes, and maintain the allowances for customary Māori at 10 tonnes, recreational at 5 tonnes, and other sources of fishing-related mortality at 5 tonnes. |
|
Southern rock lobster (CRA 8) |
Increase the TAC from 1053 to 1161.7 tonnes, set the TACC at 1070.7 tonnes, and maintain the allowances for customary Māori at 30 tonnes, recreational at 33 tonnes, and other sources of fishing-related mortality at 28 tonnes. |
|
East coast South Island sea cucumber (SCC 3) |
Increase the TAC from 5 to 54 tonnes, set the TAC at 48 tonnes, maintain the allowances for customary Maori at 1 tonne and recreational at 2 tonnes, and set the allowance for other sources of fishing-related mortality at 3 tonnes. |
|
Challenger and Nelson sea cucumber (SCC 7B) |
Increase the TAC from 8 to 17 tonnes, set the TAC at 14 tonnes, maintain the allowances for customary Māori at 1 tonne and recreational at 2 tonnes, and make no allowance for other sources of fishing-related mortality. |
| Bounty Platform southern blue whiting (SBW 6B) | Increase the TAC from 2426 to 3209 tonnes, set the TACC at 3145 tonnes, make no allowance for customary Māori and recreational fishing, and set the allowance for all other sources of mortality caused by fishing at 64 tonnes. |
Background to consultation
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) sought feedback from tangata whenua and stakeholders on proposed changes to the sustainability measures for:
- 4 rock lobster stocks
- 2 sea cucumber stocks
- 1 southern blue whiting stock.
The consultation ran from 12 January 2018 until 9 February 2018.
What is being proposed?
Reviews of catch limits and other management controls for selected stocks are done annually. This is consistent with the requirement that MPI ensures the sustainable use of fisheries resources.
The proposals for each stock have been assessed in the context of:
- the relevant statutory requirements
- the best available information, including the latest scientific information on the status of the stocks
- tangata whenua and stakeholder input.
The rock lobster proposals were guided by recommendations from the National Rock Lobster Management Group (an advisory group to the Minister of Fisheries on rock lobster management matters).
Details of the proposals for each stock are in the consultation documents. A summary of the proposals has also been prepared.
Consultation documents
- Review of rock lobster sustainability measures for selected rock lobster stocks [PDF, 1 MB]
- Review of sustainability measures for the sea cucumber fishery (SCC 3 & 7B) [PDF, 714 KB]
- Review of sustainability measures for the Bounty Platform southern blue whiting fishery (SBW 6B) [PDF, 457 KB]
If you can't open a document or would like printed copies, email FMSubmissions@mpi.govt.nz
What stocks are included?
The stocks include:
- Hauraki Gulf/Bay of Plenty rock lobster (CRA 2)
- Wellington/Hawkes Bay rock lobster (CRA 4)
- Otago rock lobster (CRA 7)
- Southern rock lobster (CRA 8)
- East Coast South Island sea cucumber (SCC 3)
- Challenger and Nelson sea cucumber (SCC 7B)
- Bounty Platform southern blue whiting (SBW 6B)
Find out more about the review of the CRA 2 rock lobster fishery
Making your submission
Consultation on the proposed changes closed at 5pm on 9 February 2018.
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.
