By 1 December this year, 25% of New Zealand’s Snapper 1 trawl fleet will have cameras or observers in place.
This marks the start of a large scale monitoring programme of New Zealand’s most valuable shared fishery to ensure the stock is well looked after for future generations.
The monitoring programme will initially cover 25% of the commercial trawl fleet, expanding to 50% of the fleet by 1 October 2014 and all of the fleet by 1 October 2015.
“This programme will provide greater information on the total commercial catch, particularly on the numbers of small snapper being caught and the size, age, location and timing of commercial catch generally”, said Minister for Primary Industries, Nathan Guy.
The minister also said that the fishing industry is also developing a ‘move on’ rule where fishers will have to move on from a fishing spot if too many juvenile fish are being caught.
Work is also underway on introducing mandatory vessel monitoring systems on all commercial vessels by 1 October 2014, and a $7 million scientific tagging survey will be introduced by 1 October 2014.
