NZ fishing changes announced
Changes to some fishing catch limits and management controls in New Zealand have been announced, to ensure fish stocks are being managed for productivity and economic growth within sustainable limits.
The decisions follow an annual scientific stock assessment and fisheries management review run by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).
This year's changes are:
- Increasing the total allowable catch (TAC) for seven inshore stocks, with potential gains of $800,000 in landed value
- Continuing a programme of reducing the TAC for five bluenose stocks, to enable the bluenose fishery to rebuild
- Including school shark to Schedule 6 of the Fisheries Act 1996, potentially reducing current annual costs to commercial fishers of $190,000
- Adjusting the deemed value rates across 41 fish stocks, where MPI considers more effective incentives for fishers to land and balance catch with Annual Catch Entitlement (ACE) are required
- Change to deemed values for snapper
"Good fisheries management requires a continuing process of review and adjustment using the best scientific research and management information," James Stevenson-Wallace, fisheries management director says.
"Catch limits can be changed to take account of the current abundance of a fish stock, to make sure fishing is occurring at sustainable levels. Other management controls may also need to be changed to keep the system working effectively."
The catch limit changes came into effect on 1 October 2012. Other changes will come into effect after this date.