Finfish bag limits review 2021
DECISION: APPROVED
Introduction
On 6 October 2021 Fisheries New Zealand (FNZ) advised they were reviewing recreational daily bag limits for finfish. Bag limits are set under the Fisheries (Amateur Fishing) Regulations 2013.
Submissions were due by 18 November. A decision was made on 20 April 2022, with regulatory changes to take effect from May 2022.
During October and November the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council and LegaSea worked with the New Zealand Angling & Casting Association and the New Zealand Underwater Association to develop a joint response to the proposal. The submission was sent to FNZ on 22 November.
Proposal
Fisheries New Zealand has proposed the following:
Submission
Our joint submission made eight recommendations to the Minister. The Minister for Oceans and Fisheries is David Parker.
We consider the Minister needs to apply a tandem response – tighten the restrictions on recreational harvest of vulnerable reef fish, and ban the sale of reef fish species.
We also submitted in support of the Minister confirming the bag limit of 1 per person, per day, for southern bluefin tuna under the Fisheries (Amateur Fishing) Regulations 2013.
Relevant information
2022
Minister’s decision
Ministers decision for daily bag limit changes. 20 Apr 2022.
Ministers decision for daily bag limit changes. Changes apply from Thursday 5 May 2022. Letter. 20 Apr 2022.
Daily bag limits Guide
Updated daily bag limits and size restrictions for finfish. April 2022.
An overview of updated daily bag limits and size restrictions for finfish taken in the Auckland/Kermadec, Central, Challenger, South-East or Southland/Sub-Antarctic recreational fishing areas. Guide. April 2022.
2021
Submission
Bag limits. Joint recreational. 22 Nov 2021
Submission supporting an amendment to Fisheries NZ’s Option 2, to include reef fish in the current combined daily bag limit for recreational fishers and set a maximum daily limit of 3 per species. Joint submission by NZSFC-LegaSea, NZ Angling & Casting Association and NZ Underwater Association. 22 November 2021.
Documents
Finfish bag limits. NZSFC. 2 Nov 2021
Discussion document presenting background and initial views on the Fisheries NZ proposals to review finfish daily bag limits for recreational fishers. Includes NZSFC policy on reef fish. NZ Sport Fishing Council. 2 November 2021.
Fisheries NZ
Presentation. Bag limits. Fisheries NZ. Oct 2021
Online presentation outlining the proposed changes to finfish daily bag limits for recreational fishers. Fisheries New Zealand. October 2021
Proposal. Finfish bag limit review. Fisheries NZ. 6 Oct 2021
Fisheries NZ proposal to amend the regulations applying to recreational bag limits for finfish. FNZ include 3 main options with 2 additional options. Submissions due by 18 November 2021. Fisheries New Zealand. 6 October 2021.
Research
Recreational harvest estimates 2017-18. FNZ. 2019
National Panel Survey results. Estimates of recreational catch in 2017-18. Data per region and fish stock. Finfish and shellfish harvest. Follow up survey to the 2011-12 National Panel Survey. Fisheries New Zealand. 2019.
Recreational harvest estimates 2011-12. MPI. Nov 2014
Report. National Panel Survey of marine recreational fishers 2011-12: harvest estimates. MPI. November 2014.