Crayfish 7 and 8 management review 2024
DECISION: APPROVED
Introduction
On 18 December 2023, Fisheries New Zealand (FNZ) advised they were reviewing the future management of two rock lobster fish stocks, CRA 7 (Otago) and CRA 8 (Southland, Stewart Island, and Fiordland).
FNZ proposed two options for CRA 7 & CRA 8, to either use a management procedure to guide catch settings, or to reject the use of a management procedure.
The New Zealand Sport Fishing Council (NZSFC) and other recreational fishing interests have objected to using management procedures in the past because they rely on self-reported data from commercial fishers which cannot be validated. Fisheries independent data is more reliable because it can be verified.
Submissions are due by 2 February 2024. Any changes will apply from 1 April 2024.
Proposal
In addition to the proposed management procedure to apply in CRA 7, FNZ is seeking feedback on the use of management procedures to guide catch settings in CRA 8.
In the two options proposed for CRA 8, there are changes to the Total Allowable Catch (TAC), Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) and allowances.
Table 1: Current and proposed TAC, TACC and allowances, in tonnes (t) for CRA 8.
Submission
In January 2024 the NZSFC worked with LegaSea, the New Zealand Angling & Casting Association (NZACA) and New Zealand Underwater Association (NZUA) to develop a submission in response to the FNZ proposals.
Included in the submission were five recommendations for the new Minister for Oceans and Fisheries Shane Jones.
It’s important the Minister understands the longstanding objections to management procedures based on commercial catch per unit of effort (CPUE).
The submitters also called on the Minister to revoke the outdated concessions that have, since the early 1990s, permitted commercial fishers to take crayfish smaller than the recreational minimum legal size.
The Minister must also take into account the High Court decision for CRA 1, which clarified the statutory obligation on decision makers to act in a precautionary manner when information is uncertain, incomplete or unreliable.
Decision
On 22 March Fisheries New Zealand released the Minister’s decisions for CRA 7 & 8. Shane Jones has decided to retain the current management procedures for both fish stocks. He also agreed to a significant increase to the TACC, from 1251 tonnes to 1392 tonnes. The recreational allowance was increased from 33 to 39 tonnes, this was a decision we supported in our submission even though there was no change to the daily bag limit.
Relevant information
2024
Decision
April review Minister's decision. 22 March 2024
Minister’s letter outlining the decisions for the future management of four deepwater fish stocks, crayfish (CRA 3, 7 & 8), Kaikōura pāua (PAU 3A), and southern bluefin tuna (STN 1). Minister Shane Jones. Most changes apply from 1 April 2024. Letter received 22 March.
Advice to Minister
April reviews final advice to Minister. FNZ. March 2024
Final advice paper to the Minister on April reviews with recommendations for the future management of four deepwater stocks, crayfish (Gisborne, Southland), Kaikōura paua and southern bluefin tuna. Fisheries New Zealand. March 2024.
Submissions
Crayfish 7 and 8 submission summary. NZSFC. February 2024
NZSFC one-page summary of the submission responding to the management review of the Crayfish 7 & 8 fishery, extending from Otago, Southland, Stewart Island and up to Fiordland. February 2024.
Southern crayfish TAC review. Recreational. 2 Feb 2024
Submission highlighting the need for agreed management targets for the southern rock lobster fish stocks CRA 7 (Southland) & CRA 8 (Fiordland). The concession allowing commercial capture of crayfish smaller than the recreational minimum legal size must be revoked. NZSFC, LegaSea, NZ Underwater, NZ Angling & Casting Association. 2 February 2024.
Crayfish TAC review for 1 April 2024. Submissions. Feb 2024
Public submissions in response to the review of Total Allowable Catches (TACs) for CRA 3 (Gisborne), CRA 7 (Otago) and CRA 8 (Southland-Fiordland). Changes would apply from 1 April 2024. Released by FNZ 29 July 2024.
2023
Proposal
Southern crayfish TAC review (CRA 7 & 8). FNZ. 18 Dec 2023
Proposal seeking public feedback on the way rock lobsters are managed around the lower half of the South Island, from Otago to Southland and up to Fiordland. Any changes will apply from 1 April 2024. Fisheries New Zealand. 18 December 2023.
Southern crayfish TAC review summary. FNZ. 18 Dec 2023
One page summary of proposals to change the way rock lobsters are managed around the South Island coast, from Otago to Southland and up to Fiordland. Any changes will apply from 1 April 2024. Fisheries New Zealand. 18 December 2023.
2022
High Court decision
CRA 1 High Court decision 11 Nov 2022
High Court decision on the challenge by the Environmental Law Initiative of the Minister’s 2021 & 2022 decisions for the future management of Northland rock lobster, CRA 1. Decision issued 11 November 2022.