UPDATES
8 August 2018 – Exempt list now includes octopus
The Minister of Fisheries has removed octopus from the shellfish and seaweed harvest ban in place along the Kaikōura and Cape Campbell coasts.
18 September 2017 – Minister's decisions
Following consultation, the Minister for Primary Industries has decided to set a new closure under section 11 of the Fisheries Act 1996, to replace the current emergency closure when it expires on 20 November 2017. From 5pm on 20 November 2017, the new closure will apply to:
- all shellfish (excluding rock lobster and scampi) and seaweed in the earthquake-affected area defined by the current emergency closure
- both recreational and commercial fishing.
Taking into account the best available scientific information and the information and views provided during consultation, the Minister considers that a further closure of the earthquake-affected shellfish and seaweed fisheries is necessary to protect the sustainability of these fisheries. The Minister considers that the shellfish (excluding rock lobster and scampi) and seaweed fisheries have not recovered from the impacts of the earthquakes, and allowing them to reopen would risk the sustainability of these fisheries.
Research commissioned by MPI to understand the impacts and recovery following the earthquakes is currently underway. The new closure can be reviewed on a fishery-by-fishery basis as the results from this research programme become available from mid-2018.
Find out more
- Decision letter [PDF, 2.1 MB]
- Decision document [PDF, 11 MB]
- Submissions [PDF, 22 MB]
Background
The emergency closure for earthquake-affected shellfish and seaweed species in Kaikōura and Cape Campbell will expire on 20 November 2017. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) considers that the earthquake-affected fisheries will not be recovered when the emergency closure expires. The closure currently applies to all shellfish (excluding rock lobster and scampi) and seaweed.
Proposal
MPI sought feedback from tangata whenua and stakeholders on a proposal to set a new closure under section 11 of the Fisheries Act 1996, to replace the current emergency closure when it expires.
The consultation document proposed that a new closure should apply to all shellfish (excluding rock lobster and scampi) and seaweed in the earthquake-affected area defined by the current emergency closure.
Consultation ran from 7 June 2017 until 7 July 2017.
Consultation document
Consultation document [PDF, 1.1 MB]
If you can't open the document or would like a printed copy, email FMSubmissions@mpi.govt.nz
Schedule of public drop-in sessions
Kaikōura
Tuesday 20 June, 5pm – 8pm
Sacred Heart Parish Hall
30 Ludstone Rd.
Ward
Wednesday 21 June, 5pm – 8pm
Ward / Flaxbourne Town Hall
61 Ward Street.
Blenheim
Thursday 22 June, 5pm – 8pm
Clubs of Marlborough
Ground Floor Board Room
42 Alfred St.
Making your submission
Submissions 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.
