Tarakihi east coast TAC review 2021
DECISION: PENDING 2022 REVIEW
Introduction
On 15 July 2021 Fisheries New Zealand (FNZ) advised they would be reviewing east coast tarakihi stocks taking into account the High Court’s recent judgment on the previous Minister’s decisions for TAR 1 East, TAR 2 & 3, and TAR 7 East.
On 19 July FNZ issued a proposal paper including 3 potential options for the future management of east coast tarakihi stocks. Submissions in response to the proposals were due by 9 August 2021. Any changes would apply from 1 October 2021.
The New Zealand Sport Fishing Council worked with LegaSea and the New Zealand Angling & Casting Association to submit a response by 9 August 2021.
Proposal
On 27 July FNZ issued an amended proposal paper. This included a different set of 3 potential options for the future management of east coast tarakihi stocks TAR 1 East, TAR 2 & 3, and TAR 7 East.
Table 1: Proposed Total Allowable Catches (TACs), Total Allowable Commercial Catches (TACCs), and allowances for Tarakihi east coast, in tonnes. (Source: Fisheries New Zealand)
Submission
Only having 3 weeks to make a submission severely curtailed our ability to make a submission taking into account a wide cross section of views from our various interest groups. In the time available, the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council worked with LegaSea and the New Zealand Angling & Casting Association to develop a response prior to the submission deadline of 9 August 2021.
We expect a Ministerial decision in September in anticipation that new catch limits will apply from 1 October 2021.
Relevant information
2021
Updates
In June this year the High Court agreed with Forest & Bird that the Minister must prioritise the sustainability of tarakihi before considering the commercial interests of quota holders. This ruling gave us some hope for change in October this year.
By September we learned that the Minister, Fisheries NZ and commercial interests had collaborated and agreed to hold off on this year’s review.
So, the submission we made this year in support of catch reductions and less trawling was not taken into account. There will be no changes to tarakihi catch limits until at least October 2022.
Submission
Tarakihi east coast. Joint recreational interests. 9 Aug 2021
Submission advocating for a 45% cut to the Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) to help rebuild east coast tarakihi to 40% of unfished stock size, by 2028. NZSFC-LegaSea & NZACA. 9 August 2021.
Proposals
Amended Tarakihi east coast proposal. FNZ. 27 July 2021
A proposal paper with 3 amended options for the future management of east coast tarakihi. Amendments made due to the High Court tarakihi decision on 16 June 2021. Fisheries NZ. 27 July 2021.
Letter. Tarakihi east coast TAC review. FNZ. 19 July 2021
Fisheries New Zealand advise they are reviewing catch limits, allowances and deemed value rates for east coast tarakihi stocks (TAR 1E, 2, 3 & 7E). Submissions due by 9 August 2021. FNZ. 19 July 2021.
Tarakihi east coast TAC review. FNZ. 19 July 2021
Fisheries New Zealand proposals to review the TAC of east coast tarakihi stocks TAR 1E, 2, 3 & 7E. Changes will apply from 1 October 2021. FNZ. 19 July 2021.
Letter. Tarakihi east coast TAC review. FNZ. 15 July 2021
Fisheries New Zealand advise they will be reviewing the Total Allowable Catches (TACs) for east coast tarakihi stocks. Papers will be issued soon with submissions due 3 weeks later. FNZ. 15 July 2021.
High Court judgment
Tarakihi court decision. Media release. LegaSea. 19 June 2021
The tarakihi High Court decision sets a precedent for protecting other fish populations and is a fisheries management milestone. LegaSea. 19 June 2021.
Update. Tarakihi east coast judicial review. LegaSea. 19 June 2021
A review of the 2021 High Court ruling that in 2019 the then Minister of Fisheries’ decisions for tarakihi were made unlawfully. LegaSea. 19 June 2021.
Tarakihi High Court decision. 16 June 2021
The High Court has found the Minister made unlawful management decisions for east coast tarakihi in 2019. The Minister is obliged to make a new decision by 1 October 2021. High Court. 16 June 2021.
Research
Tarakihi plenary. FNZ. May 2021
Fisheries New Zealand plenary summarising the available data on the tarakihi stocks in New Zealand waters. May 2021.
FNZ – Industry rebuild plan
Tarakihi east coast industry rebuild plan. FNZ – industry. 2019
Tarakihi east coast rebuild plan devised by commercial fishing interests and approved by the Minister of Fisheries in 2019. FNZ website link.
Tarakihi east coast rebuild plan. 5th quarterly report. April 2021.
5th progress report on the Eastern Tarakihi Management Strategy and Rebuild Plan. 1 Oct – 31 Dec 2020. Fisheries New Zealand. April 2021.
Tarakihi east coast rebuild plan. 4th quarterly report. FNZ. Feb 2021
4th progress report on the Eastern Tarakihi Management Strategy and Rebuild Plan. 1 July – 30 Sept 2020. Fisheries New Zealand. Feb 2021.
Tarakihi east coast rebuild plan. 3rd quarterly report. FNZ. Aug 2020
3rd progress report on the Eastern Tarakihi Management Strategy and Rebuild Plan. 1 April – 30 June 2020. Fisheries New Zealand. Aug 2020.
Tarakihi east coast rebuild plan. 2nd quarterly report. FNZ. May 2020
2nd progress report on the Eastern Tarakihi Management Strategy and Rebuild Plan. 1 Jan – 31 March 2020. Fisheries New Zealand. May 2020.
Tarakihi east coast rebuild plan. 1st quarterly report. FNZ. Apr 2020
First progress report on the Eastern Tarakihi Management Strategy and Rebuild Plan. 1 Oct – 31 Dec 2019. Fisheries New Zealand. April 2020.