Fisheries Act Amendment Proposals 2025

DECISION: PENDING

Introduction

Fisheries New Zealand (FNZ) officials advised the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council (NZSFC) in November 2024 they would be undertaking public consultation on amendments to the Fisheries Act in early 2025.

Shane Jones, the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries, had asked FNZ to ‘prepare proposals to make the fisheries system more responsive, certain, and efficient, to enhance the value to commercial fishers and better ensure sustainability’.

On 12 February 2025 the Minister announced a raft of proposals that reflect a wishlist of changes sought by seafood industry respresentatives over the past few decades, including but not limited to:

1. Weakening environmental protections.
2. Reducing monitoring, turning onboard cameras off at times.
3. Increased wastage, more fish discards overboard.
4. Delayed catch reductions, incentivising overfishing of depleted fish stocks.

With a willing Minister at the helm, the Seafood Industry Forum spent 13 months developing proposals that seek to make commercial access to fish stocks easier, by quicker and less expensive means, while failing to defend stocks against overexploitation and defend the ecosystem on which they depend.

The Minister is following through on their wishlist.

Environmental and social risks

The NZSFC is concerned the proposals threaten to privatise New Zealand’s fisheries and erode out ability to influence how our natural resources are managed. If given effect, the changes will reduce public access to fishing for food and cause environmental damage that may be irreversible.

This is the first raft of changes to the Fisheries Act. The Minister has indicated there are more changes planned. We anticipate a Government bill in mid-2026.

Submission

Initially, FNZ advised on 12 February the submission deadline was 28 March 2025. The NZSFC wrote to the Minister requesting an extension to 30 April. On 11 March officials advised the deadline had been extended to 11 April.

During February and March 2025, the NZSFC and LegaSea worked with a range of organisations and individuals to increase public awareness of the proposals and highlight the risks if the proposed changes are given effect.

We also collaborated with the New Zealand Angling & Casting Association and the New Zealand Underwater Association to develop a comprehensive response to the proposals. The 60-page submission was sent to FNZ on 11 April 2025.

LegaSea also delivered over 25,000 public submissions gathered online from concerned individuals and families.

Please take the time to read our submission and support the work we are doing to protect the marine environment and rebuild the abundance of fish, for the benefit of all Kiwis.

Background

When managing many of our fish stocks, the Minister and FNZ have been relying on self-reported data from commercial fishers to justify catch limit increases. This skews the outcome of stock assessments because the data is collected from the most abundant areas then assumed to be representative of the entire Quota Management Area (QMA). This ignores large areas within the QMA where no data is collected, and areas that have been abandoned due to depletion.

This latest process to amend the Fisheries Act follows 10 years of regular system reviews and more recent decisions from the High Court and Supreme Court directing the Minister to take a more precautionary approach when managing fish stocks with inadequate information. Clearly that is not in the interests of commercial investors, who want to reduce costs, not spend more money on independent research.

A record of past processes is online and available for your review at the following links:

1. Fisheries Amendment Bill 2022.
2. Cameras on boats 2021.
3. Fisheries Change Programme 2019.
4. Future of our Fisheries review 2016.
5. Fisheries System Review 2015.

What next?

The NZSFC and LegaSea will continue to work with a variety of iwi, hapū, organisations, environmental and fishing interests to promote abundant fisheries and a fair go for future generations.

We will also be preparing for another round of public debate when a bill is released for consultation in 2026.

Related information

Most recent documents are at the top of each section

2025

Submissions

Proposal release

Media coverage

Submission development

NZSFC and other recreational fishing interests meet with the Minister Shane Jones, FNZ officials and an industry representative to discuss the proposed reforms and alternatives to existing management processes. Meeting held in Auckland on 4 April 2025.

Fisheries New Zealand advise the Minister has approved an extension to the submission deadline, from 28 March to 11 April 2025. FNZ. 11 March 2025.

NZSFC meeting with FNZ officials to discuss the proposed changes to the Fisheries Act. Officials advise there are no planned amendments to section 21 of the Fisheries Act. 7 March 2025.

Fisheries New Zealand email to public advising consultation on proposed changes to the Fisheries Act is underway. Submissions due by 28 March 2025. FNZ. 24 February 2025.

2024

Proposal development

Minister establishes the Seafood Industry Forum and directs FNZ officials to work with the Forum to develop changes to the fisheries management system. February 2024.

FNZ officials advise the Highly Migratory Species Fisheries Plan Advisory Group that they will be initiating public consultation on proposed changes to the Fisheries Act in early 2025. 14 November 2024.

Pre-engagement meeting between FNZ officials and the NZSFC to discuss upcoming consultation on proposed changes to the Fisheries Act. There are 5 main areas of reform. Further details would be released in early 2025. Meeting held on 10 December 2024.