Pāua 2 TAC review 2023
DECISION: APPROVED
Introduction
Fisheries New Zealand (FNZ) issued a discussion paper proposing three possible options for the future management of Pāua 2 (PAU 2) on 16 December 2022.
Pāua 2 is a large management area, stretching from Cape Runaway on East Cape, south to Wellington and up the west coast to Tirua Point.
The PAU 2 fish stock has not been reviewed since it was introduced into the Quota Management System in 1986 so the Minister has an obligation to set a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) and allowances for the first time. Currently, only a Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) exists in PAU 2.
Submissions were due with FNZ by 8 February 2023. On 1 February FNZ advised the submission deadline had been extended until 24 March. This was in recognition of the difficulties many people were having due to the impacts of Cyclones Hale and Gabrielle in late January-early February.
On 1 September Fisheries NZ advised the recreational daily bag limit would be reduced from 10 to 5 per person, per day, as of 4 September, while the TACC remains intact.
Submission
During January and February 2023 the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council worked with LegaSea, the New Zealand Angling & Casting Association, New Zealand Underwater Association, LegaSea Hawkes Bay, other organisations and individuals to develop a submission.
The joint submission was sent to FNZ on 24 March, 2023.
Several recommendations were made, including the need to split the vast PAU 2 management area into at least three smaller management units so appropriate catch levels could be set.
The submitters rejected any cuts to the recreational daily bag limit until smaller management areas were established, adequate assessments were available, and until FNZ provided support so the community could work together with local iwi/hapū to develop local management plans.
Relevant information
2023
Decision
Pāua 2 TAC review Minister's decision. 13 Aug 2023
Minister’s decision to reduce the recreational daily bag limit and retain the TACC in Pāua 2. New bag limits apply from 4 September 2023. Minister Rachel Brooking. Decision letter received 1 September.
Advice to Minister
Pāua 2 Final advice to Minister. FNZ. June 2023
Final advice paper recommending the Minister Rachel Brooking reduces the recreational daily bag limit from 10 to 5 pāua per day, per person, while retaining existing commercial catch limits. Fisheries New Zealand. June 2023.
Summary
PAU 2 submission summary. NZSFC. May 2023.
NZSFC submission summary of the recent submission responding to the review of the PAU 2 fishery. May 2023.
Submissions
Pāua 2 TAC review. Recreational interests. 24 Mar 2023
Submission advocating the Minister splits the large PAU 2 management area into 3 smaller manageable units. Recreational interests reject any cuts to daily bag limits while the TACC is protected from reductions. Joint submission by NZSFC, LegaSea, NZ Angling & Casting Association and NZ Underwater. 24 March 2023.
Pāua 2 TAC review public submissions. March 2023
Fisheries NZ’s copy of 64 submissions received from the public and commercial fishing interests in response to the Total Allowable Catch review in Pāua 2. March 2023.
2022
Proposal
Pāua 2 TAC proposal. FNZ. 16 Dec 2022
Proposal offering three options for the future management of the PAU 2 fish stock which extends from Cape Runaway, East Coast, to Tirua Point on the west coast. Fisheries New Zealand. 16 December 2022.
Pāua 2 Update. FNZ. 17 Nov 2022
Fisheries New Zealand Update on the pending review of Pāua 2 advising that a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) and allowances will be set in this fishery for the first time. FNZ. 17 November 2022.
Supporting documents
Pāua 2 Plenary. FNZ. May 2022
Pāua 2 plenary document including stock assessment results, estimates of recreational harvest and commercial catch data. Fisheries New Zealand. May 2022.
Pāua 2 Fisheries Assessment Report. MFish. 15 June 2010
Pāua 2 Fisheries Assessment Report for Wellington, Wairarapa and Taranaki. Ministry of Fisheries. 15 June 2010.