Coromandel East temporary closure 2024

Introduction

On 6 May 2024 Fisheries New Zealand advised they were consulting on a request from Ngāti Hei for a temporary closure at East Coromandel, applying to the harvest of scallops under section 186A of the Fisheries Act 1996.

The proposed closure area covers Ngāti Hei rohe moana extending from Cuvier Island down past Slipper Island on the eastern side of the Coromandel Peninsula. 

Ngāti Hei have requested for a 6-year temporary closure however, under section 186A of the Fisheries Act 1996, temporary closures are limited at up to 2 years.

The proposed temporary closure is apart of the Pou Rāhui initiative a collaborative effort among Ngāti Hei, Ngāti Pāoa, Ngāti Tamaterā, Ngāti Tai ki Tāmaki and Ngāti Rehua Ngātiwai ki Aotea to improve management of shellfish and the marine environment in the Hauraki Gulf.

This area is within the SCA CS fishery area that is placed under indefinite closure to scallop harvest under Section 11 of the Fisheries Act, announced in March 2023, thanks to the efforts from Ngāti Hei and the Eastern Coromandel community. The New Zealand Sport Fishing Council, LegaSea, NZ Underwater Association and Spearfishing NZ previously submitted in support of the temporary closure in May 2021.

We are awaiting a decision from the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries, Shane Jones .

Submission

On 6 June 2024 the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council, LegaSea, NZ Underwater and NZ Angling and Casting submitted in support of Ngāti Hei and the proposed 2-year temporary scallop closure.

Our submission acknowledged Ngāti Hei’s commitment to constructive engagement and collaboration in the management of our marine resources for the benefit of present and future generations.

We also recommended a survey and assessment of scallop abundance within the closure area if the Coromandel scallop beds are to re-open to harvest in the future.

Relevant Infomation

2024

Submission

Proposal

Previous submission