Review of sustainability measures for 1 October 2018

DECISIONS

Minister's decision on southern bluefin tuna recreational fishery – 17 April 2019

Following consultation, the Minister of Fisheries has made a decision the proposal to introduce a bag and/or boat limit in the southern bluefin tuna recreational fishery. From 1 June 2019, a daily bag limit of one southern bluefin tuna per person will apply to all amateur fishers, in New Zealand fisheries waters.

The Minister's decision letter provides the details of, and reasons for his decision.

Minister's decision letter [PDF, 507 KB]
Decision document [PDF, 709 KB]

Minister's decision on 32 selected fish stocks – 19 September 2018

Following consultation, the Minister of Fisheries has made decisions on sustainability measures for 32 selected fish stocks for the 2018/19 fishing year, beginning 1 October 2018. This includes decisions relating to total allowable catches (TACs), non-commercial allowances, total allowable commercial catches (TACCs), deemed values, and the closure of the Kaipara Harbour recreational scallop fishery.

The Minister's decision letter provides the details of, and reasons for, each of his decisions.

Download the:

Minister's decision letter [PDF, 3.6 MB]
Decision document [PDF, 16 MB]
Appendix 1: Tarakihi TAC reduction scenarios report [PDF, 1.5 MB]
Appendix 2a: Submissions [PDF, 24 MB]
Appendix 2b: Submissions [PDF, 14 MB]

The Minister's decisions are summarised in the table below. Decisions for North Island eels are on another page.

View the North Island eel decisions

Area		Change	Decision summary
Kaipara Harbour scallops		Closure	Close the Kaipara Harbour recreational scallop fishery under section 11 of the Fisheries Act 1996.
East coast South Island elephant fish (ELE 3)		↑	Increase the TAC from 1060 to 1285 tonnes. Set the TACC at 1150 tonnes. Maintain the allowance for customary Māori fishing at 5 tonnes. Set the allowance for recreational fishing at 15 tonnes. Set the allowance for other sources of mortality to the stock caused by fishing at 115 tonnes.
Northern North Island flatfish (FLA 1)		↓	Reduce the TAC from 1762 to 986 tonnes. Set the TACC at 890 tonnes. Set the allowance for customary Māori fishing at 50 tonnes. Set the allowance for recreational fishing at 27 tonnes. Set the allowance for other sources of mortality to the stock caused by fishing at 19 tonnes.
Northwest North Island green-lipped mussel (GLM 9)		↑	Reduce the TAC from 278 to 233 tonnes. Set the TACC at 135 tonnes. As Fisheries New Zealand recently amended the spat ratio for spat/seaweed material collected in GLM 9, these decisions effectively increase potential commercial catch by 50%. Maintain the allowance for customary Māori fishing at 59 tonnes. Maintain the allowance for recreational fishing at 39 tonnes. Maintain the allowance for other sources of mortality to the stock caused by fishing at 0 tonnes.
East coast South Island red gurnard (GUR 3)		↑	Increase the TAC from 1290 to 1593 tonnes. Set the TACC at 1320 tonnes. Maintain the allowance for customary Māori fishing at 3 tonnes. Maintain the allowance for recreational fishing at 6 tonnes. Set the allowance for other sources of mortality to the stock caused by fishing at 264 tonnes.
Northern North Island John dory (JDO 1)		↓	Set the TAC at 423 tonnes. Set the TACC at 354 tonnes. Set the allowance for customary Māori fishing at 15 tonnes. Set the allowance for recreational fishing at 36 tonnes. Set the allowance for other sources of mortality to the stock caused by fishing at 18 tonnes.
West coast South Island John dory (JDO 7)		↑	Increase the TAC from 206 to 226 tonnes. Set the TACC at 209 tonnes. Maintain the allowance for customary Māori fishing at 2 tonnes. Maintain the allowance for recreational fishing at 4 tonnes. Set the allowance for other sources of mortality to the stock caused by fishing at 11 tonnes.
Southern and east coast South Island kingfish (KIN 3)		↑	Increase the TAC from 3 to 17 tonnes. Set the TACC at 6 tonnes. Set the allowance for customary Māori fishing at 4 tonnes. Set the allowance for recreational fishing at 6 tonnes. Set the allowance for other sources of mortality to the stock caused by fishing at 1 tonne.
Southern South Island ling (LIN 5)		↑	Increase the TAC from 4036 to 4834 tonnes. Set the TACC at 4735 tonnes. Maintain the allowance for customary Māori fishing at 1 tonne. Maintain the allowance for recreational fishing at 1 tonne. Set the allowance for other sources of mortality to the stock caused by fishing at 97 tonnes.
Chatham Rise oreo (OEO 4)		↑	Increase the TAC from 3150 to 3780 tonnes. Set the TACC at 3600 tonnes (including a 2600 tonne voluntary smooth oreo catch limit). Maintain the allowance for customary Māori fishing at 0 tonnes. Maintain the allowance for recreational fishing at 0 tonnes. Set the allowance for other sources of mortality to the stock caused by fishing at 180 tonnes.
Chatham Rise orange roughy (ORH 3B)		↑	Increase the TAC from 5470 to 6413 tonnes. Set the TACC at 6091 tonnes. Maintain the allowances for customary Māori fishing at 5 tonnes. Maintain the allowance for recreational fishing at 0 tonnes. Set the allowance for other sources of mortality to the stock caused by fishing at 317 tonnes.
Stewart Island paua (PAU 5B)		↑	Increase the TAC from 105 to 123 tonnes. Set the TACC at 107 tonnes. Set the allowance for customary Māori fishing at 7 tonnes. Maintain the allowances for recreational fishing at 6 tonnes. Maintain the allowance for other sources of mortality caused by fishing at 3 tonnes.
East coast South Island scampi (SCI 3)		↑	Increase the TAC from 357 to 428 tonnes. Set the TACC at 408 tonnes. Maintain the allowance for customary Māori fishing at 0 tonnes. Maintain the allowance for recreational fishing at 0 tonnes. Set the allowance for other sources of mortality to the stock caused by fishing at 20 tonnes.
West coast South Island rig (SPO 7)		↑	Increase the TAC from 306 to 346 tonnes. Set the TACC at 271 tonnes. Maintain the allowance for customary Māori fishing at 15 tonnes. Maintain the allowance for recreational fishing at 33 tonnes. Set the allowance for other sources of mortality to the stock caused by fishing at 27 tonnes.
Southern bluefin tuna in all New Zealand waters (STN 1)		↑	Increase the TAC from 1000 to 1088 tonnes. Set the TACC at 1046 tonnes. Set the allowance for customary Māori fishing at 2 tonnes. Set the allowance for recreational fishing at 20 tonnes. Maintain the allowance for other sources of mortality to the stock caused by fishing at 20 tonnes.
East coast North Island and east coast South Island tarakihi (TAR 1, 2, 3, 7).		↓	The TAC of TAR 1, TAR 2, TAR 3 and TAR 7 are being adjusted to reduce catches in the east coast tarakihi stock, which extends across these 4 management boundaries.
	Northern North Island (TAR 1)	↓	Reduce the TAC from 2029 to 1390 tonnes. Set the TACC at 1097 tonnes. Set the allowance for customary Māori fishing at 73 tonnes. Set the allowance for recreational fishing at 110 tonnes. Set the allowance for other sources of mortality caused by fishing at 110 tonnes.
	East coast North Island (TAR 2)	↓	Reduce the TAC from 2082 to 1823 tonnes. Set the TACC at 1500 tonnes. Set the allowance for customary Māori fishing at 100 tonnes. Set the allowance for recreational fishing at 73 tonnes. Set the allowance for other sources of mortality to the stock caused by fishing at 150 tonnes.
	East coast South Island (TAR 3)	↓	Reduce the TAC from 1503 to 1174 tonnes. Set the TACC at 1040 tonnes. Set the allowance for customary Māori fishing at 15 tonnes. Set the allowance for recreational fishing at 15 tonnes. Set the allowance for other sources of mortality to the stock caused by fishing at 104 tonnes.
	West coast South Island (TAR 7)		Increase the TAC from 1088 to 1174 tonnes. Set the TACC at 1042 tonnes. Set the allowance for customary Māori fishing at 5 tonnes. Set the allowance for recreational fishing at 23 tonnes. Set the allowance for other sources of mortality to the stock caused by fishing at 104 tonnes.
Deemed value rates for multiple stocks
Bluenose (BNS 3) Flatfish (FLA 1) John Dory (JDO 1 & 7) Pilchard (PIL 7 & 8) Gemfish (SKI 3 & 7) Tarakihi (TAR 1, 2, 3 & 7) Trevally (TRE 1)			Interim deemed values have been increased for BNS 3, FLA 1, JDO 1 and 7, PIL 8, TAR 1, 2, 3, and 7, and TRE 1. Annual deemed values have been increased for BNS 3 and TAR 1, 2, 3, and 7, and decreased for PIL 7 and 8 and SKI 3 and 7. Differential deemed values have been increased for bluenose in BNS 3 landed to the Chatham Islands (not the rest of BNS 3), TAR 1, 3 and 7 and TRE 1, and decreased for PIL 7 and 8 and SKI 3 and 7. The deemed value rate differential has been changed from standard to special for PIL 7 and 8, TAR 3, and TRE 1. For details, check pages 470 to 471 of the decision document.

Have your say

Fisheries New Zealand sought feedback on proposed changes to the sustainability measures and other management controls for selected fishstocks.

Consultation ran from 2 July until 27 July 2018.

Consultation documents

Statutory considerations [PDF, 390 KB]
Southern bluefin tuna (STN 1) [PDF, 358 KB]

Updated table of proposed management settings for STN 1 [PDF, 233 KB]
^{(table revised to correct percentages used in recreational column)}

Deepwater stocks [PDF, 1.2 MB]

Ling (LIN 5)
Oreo (OEO 4)
Orange roughy (ORH 3B)
Scampi (SCI 3)

Closure of Kaipara Harbour scallop fishery [PDF, 828 KB]
Inshore stocks

Elephant fish (ELE 3) [PDF, 837 KB]
Flatfish (FLA 1) [PDF, 705 KB]
Green-lipped mussel (GLM 9) [PDF, 427 KB]
John Dory (JDO 1 & 7) [PDF, 953 KB]
Kingfish (KIN 3) [PDF, 551 KB]
Pāua 5B [PDF, 615 KB]
Rig (SPO 7) [PDF, 750 KB] Download [PDF, 896KB] [PDF, 896 KB]
Red gurnard (GUR 3) [PDF, 896 KB]
Tarakihi (TAR 1, 2, 3 & 7)

Summary of tarakihi proposal [PDF, 195 KB]
Consultation doc [PDF, 1.2 MB]
Industry proposal [PDF, 909 KB]

Deemed value rates [PDF, 484 KB]

Bluenose (BNS 3)
Gemfish (SKI 3 & 7)
Pilchard (PIL 7 & 8)
Tarakihi (TAR 1, 2, 3 & 7)
Trevally (TRE 1)

If you can't open the documents or would like printed copies, email FMSubmissions@mpi.govt.nz

Related consultation

Review of North Island eel sustainability measures for 1 October 2018

What was proposed?

Reviews of catch limits and other management controls for selected stocks are undertaken annually. This is consistent with the requirement that Fisheries New Zealand ensures the sustainable utilisation of fisheries resources.

The proposals for each stock were assessed in the context of the relevant statutory requirements and the best available information, including (where relevant) the latest scientific information on the status of the stocks, and tangata whenua and stakeholder input.

Full details are in the consultation documents. A summary of proposals is provided in the table below.

Area	Change	Proposal summary
Southern bluefin tuna in all New Zealand waters (STN 1)	↑	Increase in catch limit proposed. Best available information suggests an increase in abundance.
Northwest North Island green-lipped mussel (GLM 9)	Varies	Changes are proposed to the way that harvested mussel-spat, which is the largest source of fishing in GLM 9, is measured and reported. A review of catch limits is also being undertaken to consider whether to provide for increased catches in the spat fishery in response to increasing demand.
Kaipara Harbour scallops	Closure	A closure of the Kaipara Harbour recreational scallop fishery is proposed under section 11 of the Fisheries Act 1996. Best available information suggests a sustainability concern.
Northern North Island flatfish (FLA 1)	↓	Decrease proposed. Best available information suggests a sustainability concern.
Northern North Island John Dory (JDO 1)	↓	Decrease proposed. Best available information suggests a sustainability concern.
East coast North Island and South Island tarakihi (TAR 1, 2, 3, & 7)	↓	Decrease proposed to support a rebuild of this fishery. These tarakihi stocks are managed as one stock unit, and best available information suggests a sustainability concern
East coast South Island kingfish (KIN 3)	↑	Increase proposed. Best available information suggests an increase in abundance.
East coast South Island elephant fish (ELE 3)	↑	Increase proposed. Best available information suggests an increase in abundance.
East coast South Island red gurnard (GUR 3)	↑	Increase proposed. Best available information suggests an increase in abundance.
East coast South Island scampi (SCI 3)	↑	Increase proposed. Best available information suggests an increase in abundance.
Chatham Rise orange roughy (ORH 3B)	↑	Increase proposed. Best available information suggests an increase in abundance in 2 orange roughy sub-stocks: Northwest Chatham Rise, and East and South Chatham Rise.
Chatham Rise oreo (OEO 4)	↑	Increase proposed. Best available information suggests an increase in abundance.
West coast South Island John Dory (JDO 7)	↑	Increase proposed. Best available information suggests an increase in abundance.
West coast South Island rig (SPO 7)	↑	Increase proposed. Best available information suggests an increase in abundance.
Southern ling (LIN 5)	↑	Increase proposed. Best available information suggests an increase in abundance.
Stewart Island pāua (PAU 5B)	↑	Increase proposed. Best available information suggests an increase in abundance.
Deemed value rate reviews are proposed for:
Northeast North Island trevally (TRE 1) Northern North Island flatfish (FLA 1) Northern North Island John Dory (JDO 1) East coast North Island and South Island tarakihi (TAR 1, 2, 3, & 7) East coast and southern South Island bluenose (BNS 3) East coast and southern South Island gemfish (SKI 3) West coast South Island gemfish (SKI 7) West coast South Island John Dory (JDO 7) West coast South Island pilchard (PIL 7) West coast North Island pilchard (PIL 8)

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 them (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 Fisheries New Zealand makes to withhold information can be reviewed by the Ombudsman, who may tell us to release it.