Skip to main content

Review of sustainability measures for fisheries – April 2025 round

Updates 

26 March 2025 – Submissions and advice papers released

We have released the submissions and advice papers for rock lobster and Pacific bluefin tuna.

Rock lobster

Public submissions received for rock lobster stocks as part of the 2025 April sustainability round [PDF, 11 MB]

Advice paper: Review of sustainability measures for rock lobster in CRA 7 (Otago) and CRA 2 (Hauraki Gulf, Coromandel, and Bay of Plenty) [PDF, 4.1 MB]

Pacific bluefin tuna

Public submissions received for Pacific bluefin tuna as part of the 2025 April sustainability round [PDF, 5.1 MB]

Advice paper: Review of sustainability measures for Pacific bluefin tuna (TOR 1) for 2025 [PDF, 9.1 MB]

25 March 2025 – Minister’s decisions released for rock lobster

Following consultation, the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries has made decisions on sustainability measures for the CRA 2 (Hauraki Gulf, Coromandel, and Bay of Plenty) and CRA 7 (Otago) rock lobster fisheries.

We have released:

  • the minister's decision letter, which provides further details and reasons for each of the decisions
  • summaries of the decisions for each stock.

The decision letter – Minister for Oceans and Fisheries [PDF, 440 KB]

Fisheries New Zealand’s advice for these rock lobster stocks and the submissions received during public consultation will be released soon.

Summary table of the minister’s decisions

Species

Stock/area

Summary of decisions

Rock lobster / kōura

CRA 7 – Otago
  • Increase the TAC from 134.5 tonnes to 137.5 tonnes.
  • Increase the allowance for all other mortality caused by fishing from 8 tonnes to 11 tonnes.
  • Retain the allowances for customary and recreational fishing at 10 tonnes and 5 tonnes, respectively .
  • Retain the TACC at 111.5 tonnes.

CRA 2 – Hauraki Gulf, Coromandel, and Bay of Plenty
  • Close the inner Hauraki Gulf to commercial and recreational rock lobster fishing. This encompasses waters south of a straight line extending from the southern boundary of the Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine Reserve to Port Jackson Bay, top of the Coromandel Peninsula (refer to the map below this table).
  • Retain the TAC at 173 tonnes.
  • Retain the allowance for all other mortality caused by fishing at 42.5 tonnes.
  • Retain the allowances for customary and recreational fishing at 16.5 tonnes and 34 tonnes, respectively.
  • Retain the TACC at 80 tonnes.

Area of closure in CRA 2

Map showing closure to parts of the Hauraki Gulf for spiny rock lobster

The map is available in a larger dimension(2953 x 3937) [PNG, 641KB]

3 March 2025 – Minister’s decisions released for Pacific bluefin tuna

Following consultation, the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries has made decisions on sustainability measures for Pacific bluefin tuna (TOR) as part of the 2025 April sustainability round.

This announcement is for Pacific bluefin tuna (TOR) only – the minister’s decisions for spiny rock lobster stocks will be announced later in March.

We have released:

  • a summary of the decisions for TOR
  • the minister's decision letter

Fisheries New Zealand’s advice paper for TOR and the submissions received during public consultation will be released in the coming weeks.

Decision letter

The minister's decision letter provides further details and reasons for his decision.

Summary table of the minister’s decisions for Pacific bluefin tuna

Species

Stock/area

Change

Decision summary

Pacific bluefin tuna

TOR 1 – all of New Zealand

TAC ↑

From 1 March 2025 to 30 September 2025:

  • increase the TAC from 145 tonnes to 229 tonnes
  • generate 84 tonnes of additional ACE

For the new fishing year beginning 1 October 2025:

  • increase the TAC from 145 tonnes to 235.5 tonnes
  • increase the allowance for recreational fishing from 25 tonnes to 30 tonnes
  • increase the TACC from 116 tonnes to 200 tonnes
  • increase the allowance for customary fishing from 0.5 tonnes to 2 tonnes

Update – 7 February 2025

Updated document fixing an email error

Fisheries New Zealand has noted an error in the email address for submissions in the summary document for the review of the Hauraki Gulf/Bay of Plenty spiny rock lobster fishery (CRA 2). The document was updated to correct the error and the email address on the document has been updated to FMSubmissions@mpi.govt.nz

This may have affected a small number of submitters, who would have received a bounce-back email at the time noting the email address was invalid. Fisheries New Zealand apologises for any inconvenience this may have caused and accepted submissions from those affected until 5pm on Wednesday 12 February 2025.

Consultation background

Fisheries New Zealand sought feedback on proposed changes to sustainability measures for 2 rock lobster stocks and Pacific bluefin tuna as part of the 2025 April sustainability round. We invited feedback from tangata whenua, stakeholders, and the public on these proposed changes.

What was proposed?

Fisheries New Zealand reviews catch limits for selected stocks twice a year. This is consistent with the purpose of the Fisheries Act 1996 to allow for sustainable utilisation.

Fisheries New Zealand reviewed catch limits and allowances, and spatial management measures for:

  • spiny rock lobster (CRA 2) – Bay of Plenty.

We also reviewed catch limits and allowances for:

  • spiny rock lobster and pacific bluefin tuna (CRA 7 and TOR 1) – Otago.

All the proposals in this round were assessed:

  • in the context of the relevant statutory requirements
  • using the best available information, including the latest scientific information on the status of the stocks and tangata whenua and stakeholder input.

Full details were provided in the consultation documents.

Table: Summary of the proposals and consultation documents

Species

Stock/area

Proposal

Consultation document

Spiny rock lobster

CRA 2

 

Inner Hauraki Gulf closure, and TAC ↑  

Review of sustainability measures for spiny rock lobster (CRA 2) for 2024/25 [PDF, 3.1 MB]

CRA 2 Summary document [PDF, 1.6 MB]

CRA 7

 

TAC ↑  

Review of sustainability measures for spiny rock lobster (CRA 7) for 2024/25 [PDF, 1.3 MB]
Pacific bluefin tuna

 

TOR 1

TAC ↑  

Review of sustainability measures for Pacific bluefin tuna (TOR 1) for 2024/25 [PDF, 1.1 MB]

Supporting document

Information on the interpretation and application of the statutory considerations relevant to TAC decisions was provided in the legal appendix.

Legal appendix [PDF, 387 KB]

Related information

Fisheries Act 1996 – NZ Legislation

Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act 2000 – NZ Legislation

About the Quota Management System (QMS)

The Harvest Strategy Standard 

Operational Guidelines for New Zealand's Harvest Strategy Standard [PDF, 843 KB]

The Deemed Values Guidelines [PDF, 896 KB]

Glossary of relevant terms 

National Fisheries Plan for deepwater and middle-depth fisheries [PDF, 1.4 MB]

Regional plan provisions and policy statements [PDF, 324 KB]

National Inshore Finfish Fisheries Plan [PDF, 10 MB]

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

MPI business units