Taranaki temporary closure 2024

Introduction

In July 2024, Taranaki iwi and hapū at Western Taranaki sent a new application to Shane Jones, Minister for Oceans and Fisheries requesting a 2-year temporary closure at west Taranaki under Section 186A of the Fisheries Act. The new application includes closing the area to the harvest of all shellfish, seaweeds (except beachcast), anemones, sting rays, conger eel species and crayfish.

Submissions in response to the application were due with Fisheries NZ by 5pm 30 September 2024.

Submission

In September 2024 the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council worked together with New Plymouth Sport Fishing & Underwater Club and Cape Egmont Boat Club. Together we submitted against the application for a new 2-year temporary closure. Without clear evidence and the best available information it was difficult for clubs to make an informed decision to support another closure.

We respect Taranaki iwi and community efforts, particularly when officials have chosen to ignore the impacts of ongoing depletion on the local community. And, encourage further conversations between communities, iwi and recreational interests around the future long term management of the coastline in west Taranaki.

In 2022, the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council and LegaSea submitted in partial support of a 2-year temporary closure at west Taranaki. The submission requested that the Minister excludes crayfish harvest out to one nautical mile from the coast instead of two nautical miles.

On 14 December 2022, the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries, David Parker approved the previous request to temporarily close the western Taranaki coastline to the harvest of all shellfish (except red rock lobster) seaweeds (except beachcast seaweed), anemones, conger eels. This closure applies from 16 December 2022 until December 2024.

Relevant information

2024

Submission

Proposal

1996

Legislation