Review of sustainability measures for orange roughy (ORH 3B) – 2023 October round

Consultation background

Fisheries New Zealand sought feedback on proposed changes to sustainability measures for orange roughy (ORH 3B) as part of the 2023 October sustainability round. The ORH 3B stock covers orange roughy across Southland, the East Coast of the South Island, the Sub-Antarctic and the Chatham Islands. We invited feedback from tangata whenua, stakeholders, and the public on these proposed changes.

About the proposed changes

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.

We reviewed catch limits and allowances for ORH 3B (Southland, east coast South Island, Sub-Antarctic, Chatham Islands).

The proposals for ORH 3B were assessed:

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

Research in 2023 re-evaluated recent stock assessments for the East and South Chatham Rise – the largest fishery and sub-stock in ORH 3B. This work identified inconsistencies between the biomass and trends estimated by the stock assessment model and observational data. The previous assessment was rejected, and stock status is unknown.

The acoustic survey series and unstandardised catch per unit effort shows flat or declining trends across many areas, giving rise to a sustainability concern for ORH 3B. We're proposing 3 options to reduce the total allowable catch (TAC), total allowable commercial catch (TACC), and allowance for other sources of mortality caused by fishing for this stock.

The options would see reductions to the TAC of about 15%, 35%, or 40% respectively with associated voluntary reductions in the sub-area catch limit for the east and south Chatham Rise (ESCR). Fisheries New Zealand considered these options respond to sustainability concerns with various levels of caution.

Consultation document

Review of sustainability measures for orange roughy (ORH 3B) for 2023/24 [PDF, 1.4 MB]

Related consultation

There is related consultation underway for other fish stocks as part of the 2023 October sustainability round. Submissions on that consultation close earlier (5pm on 17 July 2023).

Review of sustainability measures for 1 October 2023

Legal overview

Our legal overview of sustainability measures provides the main legal requirements as they relate to decision-making on sustainability measures. It also references the relevant provisions in the Fisheries Act 1996.

Legal overview of sustainability measures [PDF, 343 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, 1.4 MB]

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]

Submissions are public information

Note that all, part, or a summary of your submission may be published on this website.

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