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What you need to know

Trawling is a long-established commercial fishing method. It provides a cost-effective way to catch fish. Commercial fishing law includes restrictions on the use and design of trawl nets. For example:

  • there are restrictions on what net mesh size is allowed
  • some structural features (such as net sleeves, liners, and flappers) are banned.

Commercial fishers who want to use a new kind of trawl net can apply to us for approval to trial it.

New types of nets must meet criteria

We'll only approve the use of a new type if we're satisfied that it performs at least as well as an existing net, in providing for the utilisation of fisheries resources while ensuring sustainability. The way fishers use the new net must also be consistent with any relevant fisheries plans.

To ensure we’re satisfied that the net performs at least as well as an existing net, Fisheries New Zealand will assess how the net compares with an existing net for:

  • species composition
  • size composition
  • impact on protected species
  • impact on benthic species.

Fisheries (Commercial Fishing) Regulations – 71B Consideration of application for approval – NZ Legislation

How to apply

Follow these steps for getting approval to trial and use new trawl gear.

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How will Fisheries New Zealand manage commercially sensitive information?

We must comply with the Official Information Act (OIA) to manage the release of information that is requested by the public. All information held by us is a matter of public record and is considered official information for the purposes of the OIA. Under the OIA, the release of information must be considered on a case-by-case basis.

However, information supplied in support of an application for either a special permit or an approval of a new trawl net may not be released if it is not in the public interest to release it, and it:

  • is a trade secret or considered commercially sensitive
  • would unreasonably prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied it, and it is not in the public interest to release it
  • would be likely to prejudice the supply of similar information, or information from the same source, and it is the public interest that such information should continue to be supplied

Approved trawl nets

Fisheries New Zealand has approved the use of the following trawl nets under regulation 71A of the Fisheries (Commercial Fishing) Regulations 2001:

Who to contact

If you have questions about the commercial trawling regulations, or about how to apply for approvals to trial and use new trawl nets, email info@mpi.govt.nz

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