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New Zealand Sport Fishing Council > Fisheries > Fisheries Management in New Zealand > Customary
  • Fisheries Management in New Zealand
    • Species
    • Customary
      • Aotea Great Barrier Temporary Closure 2023
      • Astrolabe Reef s186A closure 2016
      • Coromandel East temporary closure 2021
      • Kauaetangohia Mātaitai
      • Maunganui Bay temporary closure
      • Napier Reef temporary closure 2023
      • Ōmāui Mātaitai 2019-20
      • Taranaki temporary closure 2022
      • Tautuku Mātaitai 2019-21
      • Te Māta temporary closure
      • Tutukaka – Ngunguru temporary closure 2023
      • Umupuia temporary closure
      • Waiheke temporary closure 2021
      • Waimārama temporary closure 2020 -22
      • Whangaroa temporary closure 2021
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      • Red cod land-all catch review 2023
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      • Trevally 2 TAC review 2023
      • Tutukaka – Ngunguru temporary closure 2023
      • Waikato Regional Coastal Plan 2023
    • 2022 submissions
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      • Crayfish 1, 7 & 8 TAC review 2022
      • Deemed value review 2022
      • Fiordland amateur regulations review 2022
      • Fisheries Amendment Bill 2022
      • FMA 7 TAC review 2022
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      • Hauraki Gulf Marine Protected Areas 2022
      • Kaikōura pāua reopening 2022
      • Maunganui Bay temporary closure
      • Northland area closure proposals 2022
      • Pāua 5 Draft Fisheries Plan
      • Rig 3 TAC review 2022
      • Northland & Coromandel Scallop TAC Review 2022
      • Tarakihi east coast TAC review 2022
      • Taranaki temporary closure 2022
      • Technical change proposals 2022
      • Te Māta closure application
      • Waikato Region Coastal Plan 2022
      • Waimārama temporary closure 2020 -22
      • Umupuia temporary closure 2008-2022
    • 2021 submissions
      • Blue cod 3 TAC review 2021
      • Cameras on boats 2021
      • Clive River dredging 2021
      • Coromandel East temporary closure 2021
      • Crayfish 1, 3, 4, 5 & Packhorse TAC review 2021
      • Elephant fish 7 TAC review 2021
      • Finfish bag limits review 2021
      • Flatfish 2 TAC review 2021
      • Gurnard 1 TAC review 2021
      • Hāpuku-Bass 1 & 2 TAC review 2021
      • Kaikōura pāua fishery reopening 2021
      • Kingfish 8 Deemed value review 2021
      • Snapper 8 TAC review 2021
      • Southern bluefin tuna TAC review 2021
      • Tarakihi east coast TAC review 2021
      • Waiheke temporary closure 2021
      • Whangaroa temporary closure 2021
      • Yellow-eyed mullet 9 TAC review 2021
    • 2020 submissions
      • Aggregation limits kahawai, jack mackerel 2020
      • Blue cod 5 TAC review 2020
      • Crayfish 1, 3, 4, 7 & 8 TAC review 2020
      • Crayfish ACE carry forward 2020
      • Gurnard 7 TAC review 2020
      • Kingfish 2, 3, 7 & 8 TAC review. July 2020
      • Maunganui Bay temporary closure
      • National Finfish Fisheries Plan 2019-20
      • National Rock Lobster Management Group review 2020
      • Northland scallop TAC review 2020
      • Pāua 3 subdivision 2020
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      • Sea Change Marine Spatial Plan 2014-21
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    • 2019 submissions
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      • TAC review CRA 2, 4, 7 & 8. Jan 2018
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    • 2015 Submissions
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      • Marlborough Sounds blue cod
    • 2014 Submissions
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    • 2013 Submissions
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      • Crayfish management 2010-13
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  • Regional issues
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    • Bay of Plenty
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      • Papamoa Beach bylaw review 2018
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      • Hauraki Gulf Fisheries Plan 2023
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      • Ponui mussel farm proposal
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      • Te Māta temporary closure
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      • Waikato Regional Coastal Plan 2023
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    • Northland
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      • Northland area closure proposals 2022
      • Tutukaka & Ngunguru temporary closure 2023
    • Southland and Otago
      • Fiordland Marine Amateur Regulations 2022-23
      • Ōmāui mātaitai 2019-20
      • Tautuku Mātaitai application
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    • Marine Protection Bill 2023
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  • RMA
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Customary

Maori customary initiatives

Introduction

Since 2005 the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council has actively supported mana whenua in their efforts to protect the near shore marine environment, finfish and shellfish species from over harvesting.

Over time we have worked with the Mid North Iwi Fisheries Forum, the Hokianga Accord, and others, to submit in support of a range of applications for temporary closures under sections 186A or 186B of the Fisheries Act (1996), for rāhui and the establishment of mātaitai around the North and South Islands.

It has been a privilege to work with mana whenua to achieve effective local management, and to work with the public to support these initiatives. Success has been achieved in the Bay of Islands, Whangarei, the Hauraki Gulf, Coromandel and south to Wairarapa.

However, we note that it is largely the failure by Fisheries New Zealand to protect and manage the shellfish fisheries that leaves mana whenua in a position where they have to act on behalf of the community to protect remaining shellfish beds from over harvesting and external stressors.

Changing needs

Over time our population has changed and there are increasing reports of bulk harvesting by groups of people who travel out of town to harvest shellfish in nearby beaches. There does not seem to be any effective management of this activity by Fisheries New Zealand nor adequate measures to protect our inter-tidal species.

Consequently, it is left to mana whenua to recognise the problem and initiate a solution with only temporary tools in hand. The Council advocates that Fisheries New Zealand needs to be more proactive in developing regulatory tools and community support for measures that adequately address contemporary conditions.

Public campaign required

There is also a strong need for Fisheries New Zealand to initiate a public awareness campaign to educate the wider public of the potential benefits in implementing local area management tools. Currently, the only tools available are no-take marine reserves or customary initiatives that are limited in their application, yet we know from experience that the protection of shellfish, finfish and the marine ecosystem benefits the wider community.

Since the Sea Change process and final report, the Council and LegaSea have advocated for Ahu Moana.

Ahu Moana is a community based solution that encompasses iwi and communal aspirations, allowing for continued use of an area with controls to suit local conditions.

Our recent initiatives in support of Ahu Moana include Coromandel scallop closure, Hauraki Gulf Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Bill, Hauraki Gulf Trawl Corridors, Aotea Temporary Closure 2023, Tutukaka-Ngunguru Temporary Closure, Waimārama Temporary Closure and Te Rāhui o Moremore, Napier temporary closure.

Resources

Article. Respecting rāhui is good for conservation. LegaSea. 21 Nov 2023

An increase in extreme weather events, land run-off, and ineffective fisheries management means we need to embrace a variety of tools to restore our inshore marine environment. LegaSea. 21 November 2023.

READ NOW >

FAQ. Temporary customary closures. Fisheries NZ. July 2022

Questions and answers about temporary closures, method restrictions and other Māori customary management tools. Fisheries New Zealand. July 2022.

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FAQ. Temporary closures, customary management tools. FNZ. Aug 2018

Fisheries New Zealand answers to questions about method restrictions, what are temporary closures and what other management tools are available to mana whenua to manage areas and/or species. August 2018

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