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Proposed temporary closures at Wakatu Quay, and Te Rae o Tawhiti (Mudstone Bay) in South Bay, Kaikōura

Requests for temporary closures

Pursuant to section 186B of the Fisheries Act 1996, Fisheries New Zealand has received 2 requests from Te Taumanu o Te Waka a Māui Taiāpure Management Committee for temporary closures to the take of any species of fish, aquatic life, or seaweed.

The first request is for a further temporary closure at Wakatu Quay, Kaikōura, until July 2019. The current temporary closure is due to expire on 20 July 2018.

The second request is for a 2-year temporary closure at Te Rae o Tawhiti (Mudstone Bay) in South Bay, Kaikōura. 

Consultation documents

Copies of the requests, including maps of the proposed areas, are available for download. You can also ask to be sent printed copies.

Background

Section 186B provides that the Director-General may temporarily close an area of South Island fisheries waters, or temporarily restrict or prohibit the use of any fishing method in respect of an area if satisfied that the closure, restriction, or prohibition:

  • will assist in replenishing the stocks concerned, or
  • recognise and provide for the use and management practices of tangata whenua in the exercise of non-commercial fishing rights.

Te Taumanu o Te Waka a Māui Taiāpure Management Committee considers that:

  • A further closure at Wakatu Quay, until July 2019, will provide statutory support for the traditional rāhui (traditional closure) in the area; assist with post-earthquake replenishment of the stocks in the area by operating as a refuge for ecosystem and species recovery; and provide time for longer-term fisheries management measures to be put in place.
  • A 2-year closure Te Rae o Tawhiti (Mudstone Bay) will provide statutory support for a traditional rāhui (traditional closure) at the bay, and assist with post-earthquake replenishment of the stocks in the bay by operating as a refuge for ecosystem and species recovery.

Proposed areas

Map for proposed temporary closures at Wakatu Quay and Te Rae o Tawhiti (Mudstone Bay) in South Bay, Kaikōura.
Map for proposed temporary closures at Wakatu Quay and Te Rae o Tawhiti (Mudstone Bay) in South Bay, Kaikōura

The proposed Wakatu Quay temporary closure covers all that area of South Island fisheries waters enclosed by a line:

  • commencing at a point at the North Wharf (at 42˚24.79'S and 173˚42.19'E), then
  • proceeding in a straight line in a north-easterly direction to a point at Nine Pin Rock (at 42˚24.54'S and 173˚42.32'E), then
  • proceeding in a straight line in a south-easterly direction to a point at St Kilda Rocks (at 42˚24.80'S and 173˚42.80'E), then
  • proceeding in a straight line in a south-westerly direction to a point (at 42˚25.01'S and 173˚42.57'E, then
  • proceeding in a straight line in a westerly direction to a point on the coast (at 42˚25.02'S and 173˚42.50'E), then
  • proceeding in a north-westerly direction along the mean high-water mark (MHWM) of the coast of the South Island to the point of commencement.

The proposed Te Rae o Tawhiti (Mudstone Bay) temporary closure covers all that area of South Island fisheries waters enclosed by a line:

  • commencing at a point on the MHWM at 42°26.072'S and 173°41.434'E (on the east side of South Bay), then
  • proceeding in a straight line in a north-westerly direction to a point on the MHWM on a rock outcrop (on the west side of South Bay) at 42°25.827'S and 173°40.766'E, then
  • proceeding along the MHWM in a generally north-easterly direction to a point on the MHWM at 42°25.696'S and 173°40.933'E (on the north side of the rock outcrop), then
  • proceeding in a straight line due north to a point on the MHWM at 42°25.594'S and 173°40.933'E (near the South Bay Marina), then
  • proceeding along the MHWM to the point of commencement.

Have your say – make a submission

Written submissions in response to these requests are invited from persons who have an interest in the stock concerned or in the effects of fishing in the these areas. State clearly whether your submission relates to one or both of the requests.

A notice calling for written submissions was published in The Marlborough Express and Kaikōura Star on 30 May 2018.

The closing date for submissions is 2 July 2018.

Submissions should be sent to:

Customary Fisheries and Spatial Allocations
Fisheries New Zealand
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140.

Or by email to: FMSubmissions@mpi.govt.nz

Submissions are public information

Note, that any submission you make becomes public information. People can ask for copies of submissions under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA says we have to make submissions available unless we have a good reason for withholding it (refer to sections 6 and 9 of the OIA).

Tell us if you think there are grounds to withhold specific information in your submission. Reasons might include that it's commercially sensitive or it's personal information. However, any decision MPI makes to withhold information can be reviewed by the Ombudsman, who may tell us to release it.

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