New Zealand Sport Fishing Council > Fisheries > Fisheries Management in New Zealand > Fisheries policy and reform processes > Fisheries Change Programme 2019

Fisheries Change Programme 2019

Improving the management of commercial fishing in NZ 2019

Introduction

On 4 February 2019 Fisheries New Zealand (FNZ) released a discussion paper Your fisheries – your say, proposing a land-all catch policy which means removing size limits for commercial catch – instead undersize fish would be recorded, landed and sold. Few details were provided on how a ban on dumping catch would be enforced or how damage to the seabed and the effects of depleted fish stocks would be minimised.

A series of public and interest group meetings were held around the country. Submission deadline was 17 March 2019.

The New Zealand Sport Fishing Council alongside LegaSea, the New Zealand Angling & Casting Association and other organisations responded with a submission by the March 17 deadline. Included in the submission were 15 recommendations addressing concerns that the proposals are devoid of details about reporting, landings, monitoring and enforcement, and whether commercial quotas will increase.

Background

The Fisheries Change Programme is a continuation of the Fisheries System Review (2015) and the Future of our Fisheries review (2016).

In late 2016 the Minister of Fisheries, Nathan Guy, established a Technical Advisory Group to consider the future management options developed by Fisheries NZ. Despite being the largest organisations representing recreational fishing interests, were not invited to participate in the Group. After some prompting we received an invitation in December 2016 to attend a Technical Advisory Group meeting in March 2017 and present our views. Following the meeting a letter was sent to the Group clarifying some aspects that were discussed during the meeting.

A record of the process is provided below.

Fisheries Act Amendment proposal 2025.

Fisheries Amendment Bill 2022

Cameras on boats 2021

Future of our Fisheries review 2016

Fisheries System Review 2015

Relevant information

2019

Submissions

Submission. Fisheries Change programme (FOOF). Recreational. 17 March 2019

Submission including 15 recommendations to address management issues so inshore fish stocks can be rebuilt to abundant levels. Substantial submission from the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council supported by other representative organisations. 17 March 2019.

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Summary of Fisheries Change Programme joint recreational submission. Mar 2019

Summary of joint recreational submission in response to the Fisheries Change Programme proposals issued in February 2019 by Fisheries NZ. Summary by LegaSea. March 2019.

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Initial response

Preliminary view of Fisheries Change proposals. NZSFC. Feb 2019

Preliminary view of the Fisheries Change Programme discussion paper released by Minister Stuart Nash. NZ Sport Fishing Council. 25 February 2019.

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Summary of Fisheries Change proposals. LegaSea. 25 Feb 2019

Summary of the Fisheries Change Programme proposals released by the Minister of Fisheries on 4 February 2019. Summary by LegaSea. 25 February 2019.

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FAQ. What are the minimum legal sizes of fish? LegaSea. Feb 2019

What minimum legal size limits apply to commercial and recreational fishing? LegaSea. 11 February 2019.

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Fisheries New Zealand

Proposal documents

Fisheries Change Programme discussion paper. FNZ. Feb 2019

Discussion paper Your fisheries – your say including proposals to change fisheries management in NZ. Fisheries NZ. 4 February 2019.

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Submission form. Fisheries Change Programme. FNZ. Feb 2019

Submission form to respond to the proposals in the Fisheries Change discussion paper. Fisheries NZ. 4 February 2019

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FAQ. Fish minimum legal size review. FNZ. Feb 2019

Fisheries NZ asks ‘how do we reduce the number of undersized fish that are caught and killed commercially? Fisheries NZ. 12 February 2019.

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FAQ. What fish can be landed or dumped? FNZ. Feb 2019

Fisheries NZ answer to the question ‘what fish must be landed and what can be returned to the sea? Fisheries NZ. 12 February 2019.

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FAQ. What penalties are proposed in the Fisheries Change Programme? FNZ. Feb 2019

Fisheries NZ explanation of criminal offences and what penalties may apply after the Fisheries Change Programme is introduced. FNZ. 12 February 2019.

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FAQ. What changes to catch limits after Fisheries Change Programme? FNZ. Feb 2019

Fisheries NZ explain how they intend to implement more efficient adjustments to catch limits. Fisheries NZ. 12 February 2019.

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Public information

Industry letter to Minister cameras on boats. July 2018. Released Feb 2019

In July 2018 commercial fishing industry leaders jointly wrote to the Minister clarifying that there is “overwhelming opposition” to the proposals to install cameras onboard boats. Talleys, NZFCF, Sealord & TOKM. 27 July 2018 [see page 7] Released under OIA in February 2019.

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Onboard cameras delay causes anger. Stuff. 31 Jan 2019

The Greens and Greenpeace are angry that the rollout of cameras aboard commercial fishing vessels is delayed again. Stuff article. 31 January 2019.

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2018

Quota owners criticise onboard camera proposals. Stuff. July 2018

Stuff article highlighting corporate fishing industry leaders’ concerns around the onboard camera installation programme. Stuff. 15 July 2018

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2017

FOOF. Release. Camera rollout slowed down. Minister Nash. Nov 2017

Minister urges MPI to slow down the installation of cameras and electronic reporting on commercial fishing vessels. Stuart Nash. 10 November 2017.

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Official documents

IEMRS. Privacy Impact Assessment. Electronic reporting. MPI. July 2017

Privacy Impact Assessment of proposed electronic monitoring of commercial fishing. MPI. July 2017.

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IEMRS. Cabinet Paper. Electronic monitoring. MPI. May 2017

Minister’s advice to Cabinet seeking approval for new regulations to support electronic monitoring of commercial fishing. Nathan Guy. May 2017.

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Integrated Electronic Monitoring and Reporting System. IEMRS. MPI. May 2017

MPI advice paper ‘Integrated Electronic Monitoring & Reporting System. Regulatory Impact Statement. Analysis of options to support the introduction of electronic monitoring of commercial fisheries. MPI. May 2017.

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IEMRS. Enabling innovative trawl technologies. Regulatory Impact Statement. MPI. May 2017

MPI advice paper ‘Enabling innovative technologies’. Regulatory Impact Statement. Analysis of options to enable the commercial use of new trawl fishing gear. MPI. May 2017.

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2016

Report. Draft report on measuring snapper using video. MPI. 2016

Draft report on the effectiveness of cameras to assess captured fish length during the 2014 trial in SNA 1. MPI DRAFT. 2016.

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