Jack mackerel pilchard kingfish review 2024

DECISION: INCREASES APPROVED

Introduction

On 27 June 2024 Fisheries New Zealand (FNZ) issued a discussion paper including 3 options for the future management of Jack mackerel 7 (JMA 7), Kingfish 7 & 8, and 2 options for the future management of Pilchard 7 & 8.

Submissions were due by 29 July 2024.

The FNZ proposals were part of a package of 20 reviews seeking public feedback within 21 working days.

The New Zealand Sport Fishing Council (NZSFC) and other organisations strongly objected to the unreasonably short timeframe available to make submissions.

With no response from officials, the joint parties collaborated to develop a comprehensive submission by the deadline.

Decisions

Shane Jones, the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries, has approved a 3000 tonne TACC increase for Jack mackerel 7, TACC increases for Kingfish 7 & 8, and Pilchard 8. He decreased the TACC for Pilchard 7 by 35 tonnes. All changes apply from 1 October 2024.

Proposal

Table 1: Current and proposed changes to the Total Allowable Catch (TAC), allowances and Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) for JMA 7, KIN 7 & 8, PIL 7 & 8. In tonnes.

Submission

Given the urgency, in early July the NZSFC collaborated with LegaSea, the New Zealand Angling & Casting Association and New Zealand Underwater Association to develop a Preliminary view for each of the fish stocks under review. This was to help us and others to understand the proposals and what they might mean for the future abundance of these important species.

This work on the Preliminary views contributed to the final submissions sent to FNZ on 29 July. The final submissions were combined into one document because they are inter-related, caught in the west coast trawl fisheries and share some characteristics. Issues affecting one species often impacts on many others in the trawl fisheries.

Relevant information

2024

Decision

Final Advice Fisheries NZ

Submission

Preliminary views

FNZ Proposal

Additional information