Hauraki Gulf Fisheries Plan 2023

DECISION: APPROVED

Introduction

On 17 January 2023, Fisheries New Zealand released the final draft of the Hauraki Gulf Fisheries Plan for public consultation on plan objectives.

The Fisheries Plan is aimed at restoring the health of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park environment by developing fisheries management objectives. However, the plan will not ban or facilitate a transition out of mobile, bottom-contact fishing methods. It still allows bottom trawling in areas known as ‘trawl corridors’ and commercial scallop dredging to continue in some areas if the scallop fishery reopens.

The plan also lacks objectives for progressing toward ecosystem-based fisheries management.

Ecosystem-based fisheries management starts with a commitment to rebuilding the abundance of fish stocks. However, the plan does not include the creation of separate, smaller fisheries management areas for key marine species from the wider Fishery Management Area 1 (FMA 1) on the northeast coast. These smaller management areas are required to address localised depletion of fish stocks in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park.

On 9 August the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Rachel Brooking announced approval for most aspects of the draft Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Fisheries Plan. Trawling will continue until consulted on later in the year. There will be new legislation put through Parliament in Sept/Oct to confirm 19 new marine protected areas (MPAs). That is, 12 new High Protection Areas, 5 Seabed Protection Areas and extensions to the Goat Island and Cathedral Cove marine reserves. There will be opportunity for public debate when the proposed legislation goes through the House.

We are on standby to respond to the Bill as it passes through the House. A busy yet convenient time given the general election is on 14 October 2023.

Submission

Between January and March 2023, the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council (NZSFC) worked with LegaSea, the New Zealand Angling & Casting Association, other organisations and individuals to develop a submission responding to the draft Fisheries Plan. The deadline for submissions was 3rd March.

We opposed the draft Hauraki Gulf Fisheries Plan as it does not contain the bold, time-bound, or distinct objectives required for meaningful change. Nor does the plan propose actions to restore ecosystem function or enable the implementation of ecosystem-based fisheries management.

Instead, the plan includes vague objectives allowing ongoing mismanagement, depletion of fish stocks, and degradation of seafloor habitats and ecosystem health.

Our goal is to see marine abundance and biodiversity restored in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park for the benefit of future generations.

Background

In June 2021 the Government released a report, the Revitalising the Gulf action plan, to try and address the ongoing degradation of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park waters. This plan was in response to the 2017 Sea Change plan. Successive environmental reports have shown the Gulf is in serious decline and many fish stocks are depleted.

We expected the fisheries components of Revitalising the Gulf action plan to be consulted as a package of both fisheries management and marine protection measures.

Instead, 19 Hauraki Gulf Marine Protected Areas were consulted separately in September 2022, and we understand FNZ will be consulting on their trawl corridors plan later in 2023.

A comprehensive record of the Sea Change process that occurred between 2013 and 2021 is available online at the Sea Change Marine Spatial Plan page here.

A record of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) process that occurred in 2022 can be found on the webpage here.

Allowing bottom trawling and scallop dredging to continue while displacing existing fishing efforts into smaller areas due to numerous MPAs is not good enough. We need bold management.

Process

• April 2020 – Sea Change Marine Spatial Plan process found here.
• June 2020 – Joint recreational submission in response to Sea Change Spatial Plan here.
• June 2021 – Government release the Revitalising the Gulf strategy.
• April 2022 – The Hauraki Gulf Fisheries Plan Advisory Group confirmed. One NZSFC representative accepted into the Group.
• January 2023 – A draft Hauraki Gulf Fisheries Plan released for public consultation.
• August 2023 – Government announces finalised Plan, bottom trawling can continue in the Gulf while 19 new MPAs will be established.

Relevant Information

2023

Media coverage

Summary

Submissions

Correspondence

2022

Correspondence

Fisheries Plan 2021-2023

2021

Public awareness

Action plan

Supporting documents