UPDATE – 8 March 2019
Fisheries New Zealand received 19 submissions from tangata whenua, quota holders, industry and individuals about the draft plan. All submissions supported the proposed plan and the need for the fishery to be managed on a smaller scale. This approach provides valuable local data about pāua and the rules for controlling the harvest can then be adjusted accordingly. This ensures the fishery is sustainable for future generations.
The Minister of Fisheries has approved the plan.
Chatham Islands pāua plan [PDF, 697 KB]
Note, the plan will continue to operate within wider management settings overseen by Fisheries New Zealand. It remains subject to the constraints of the Total Allowable Commercial Catch and shellfish must still be of a minimum legal size.
Background to consultation
Fisheries New Zealand sought feedback on a draft Chatham Islands (PAU4) fisheries plan which was developed by the Pāua Industry Council, with support from the Chatham Islands community, local iwi and imi, and Te Ohu Kaimoana (the Māori Fisheries Trust).
Pāua on the Chatham Islands are highly valued by customary and recreational fishers and the fishery is New Zealand's largest commercial pāua fishery. Earlier this year, the Pāua Industry Council began developing a draft fisheries plan for PAU4 for consideration under section 11A of the Fisheries Act 1996. Under this section of the Act, the Minister of Fisheries may approve a fisheries plan including objectives, strategies, and performance criteria, to support the purpose and principles of the Act.
What was proposed?
Voluntary arrangements have been part of the pāua industry's management and decision making in the PAU4 fishery for many years. The pāua industry sought support for making these arrangements more formal by developing a fisheries plan for consideration under section 11A of the Fisheries Act 1996.
Amongst other matters, the plan proposed more responsive and finer-scale management, and that the shelving of Annual Catch Entitlement (ACE) be recognised as a management tool for the fishery, to be taken into account in future sustainability decisions for this fishery.
Fisheries New Zealand added a cover paper to the draft plan. The cover paper outlined Fisheries New Zealand's initial position on the draft plan in its current form.
Consultation document
- Draft Chatham Islands (PAU4) fisheries plan (with cover paper outlining Fisheries New Zealand position) [PDF, 980 KB]
Submissions are public information
Note, that any submission you make becomes public information. People can ask for copies of submissions under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA says we have to make submissions available unless we have a good reason for withholding it (refer to sections 6 and 9 of the OIA).
Tell us if you think there are grounds to withhold specific information in your submission. Reasons might include that it's commercially sensitive or it's personal information. However, any decision Fisheries New Zealand makes to withhold information can be reviewed by the Ombudsman, who may tell us to release it.
