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Proposed seabird protection measures if data transmission cables are reintroduced on trawl fishing vessels

About this consultation

In early 2022, Fisheries New Zealand released a consultation document setting out a number of proposals for regulatory amendment.

One of the proposals was to remove the prohibition on the use of data transmission cables on trawl vessels, also known as net-sonde cables. No decisions relating to that proposal have yet been made.

Find out more about the 2022 proposals

Feedback received during the 2022 consultation suggested additional seabird mitigation measures should be assessed before a decision is made on whether to allow the use of data transmission cables.

Have your say

Fisheries New Zealand is now seeking your views on supporting measures that would accompany the use of data transmission cables on trawl vessels.

This is to support decision-making on whether to retain the existing prohibition. The primary focus is on measures to mitigate the risk to seabirds posed by the cables.

Full details are in the consultation document.

Consultation document

Proposed measures to support the use of data transmission cables [PDF, 655 KB]

Making your submission

Email your feedback by 5pm on Friday 9 August to FMSubmissions@mpi.govt.nz

While we prefer email, you can post written submissions to:

Fisheries Management – Deepwater Fisheries
Fisheries New Zealand
Ministry for Primary Industries
PO Box 2525
Wellington 6140.

Make sure you tell us in your submission:

  • Your name and title
  • Your organisation’s name (if you are submitting on behalf of an organisation)
  • Your contact details (such as phone number, address, and email).

Submissions are public information

Note that all, part, or a summary of your submission may be published on this website. Most often this happens when we issue a document that reviews the submissions received.

People can also ask for copies of submissions under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA says we must make the content of submissions available unless we have good reason for withholding it. Those reasons are detailed in sections 6 and 9 of the OIA.

If you think there are grounds to withhold specific information from publication, make this clear in your submission or contact us. Reasons may include that it discloses commercially sensitive or personal information. However, any decision MPI makes to withhold details can be reviewed by the Ombudsman, who may direct us to release it.

Official Information Act 1982 – NZ Legislation

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