Bluff oyster landing review 2025

DECISION: APPROVED

Introduction

On 15 January 2025 Fisheries New Zealand (FNZ) advised they were consulting on a proposal to exempt dredge caught Foveaux Strait (Bluff) oysters from the land-all policy. Submissions in response to the proposal were due with FNZ by 12 February 2025.

Amendments to the Fisheries Act in 2022 now require all Quota Management System (QMS) species caught by commercial fishers to be landed unless exempted by the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries.

Over 20 species are already exempted and more will be reviewed by September 2026.

Proposal

FNZ is seeking feedback on whether Bluff oysters above the 58 mm minimum legal size ought to be exempted from the land-all catch policy.

The New Zealand Sport Fishing Council (NZSFC) has previously supported exemptions from the land-all commercial catch provisions for predated highly migratory species, kingfish, southern bluefin tuna, Pacific bluefin tuna and swordfish.

Submission

The NZSFC worked with LegaSea, the New Zealand Angling & Casting Association and the New Zealand Underwater Association to develop a submission in response to the proposals by 12 February 2025.

We opposed the proposed landing exception that would allow commercial fishers to return dredged Bluff oysters above the minimum legal size of 58 mm to be returned to the sea.

Dredging is a harvesting method specifically designed to gather oysters and other seabed organisms in bulk. Clearly, there is a need to develop a new method to harvest Bluff and other oysters.

Recent Court decisions have highlighted the Minister’s statutory duty to avoid and address the effects of fishing on the marine environment.

Until FNZ complete an analysis of the effects of dredging oysters, the Minister has no choice but to decline the proposal.

Decision

On 30 April FNZ advised the Minister has agreed to provide for new commercial landing exceptions for legal-size pāua and Bluff oysters that are likely to survive.

The exceptions are effective as of 1 May 2025. The Fisheries Notice is available below.

Relevant information

2025

Decision

Landing and Discard exceptions notice. FNZ. April 2025

Fisheries Landing and Discard Exceptions Notice related to shellfish and finfish species including crayfish, pāua, tuna, crabs, kina, oysters and others. Fisheries New Zealand. Released 30 April 2025.

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Submission

Submission. Bluff Oyster landing exception. Recreational. 12 Feb 2025

Submission opposing the landing exception that would allow commercial fishers to return Bluff Oysters (OYU 5) above the minimum legal size limit. NZSFC, LegaSea, NZ Angling & Casting, NZ Underwater. 12 February 2025.

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Proposal

Bluff oyster landing exception proposal. FNZ. 15 Jan 2025

Proposal to exempt Foveaux Strait (Bluff) oysters above the 58mm legal size to be exempt from the land-all catch policy. Fisheries New Zealand. January 2025.

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2023

Policy and guidelines

Review of commercial landing exceptions. FNZ. Dec 2023

Overview of policy context and legislative requirements in relation to commercial landing exception reviews. Fisheries New Zealand. December 2023.

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Commercial landing exceptions guidelines. FNZ. Dec 2023

Commercial landing exception reviews operational guidelines on assessing whether a QMS stock or species may or must be returned or abandoned to the sea under new provisions in the Fisheries Act. Fisheries New Zealand. December 2023.

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