Red snapper TAC review 2019

DECISION: APPROVED

Introduction

On 18 June 2019 Fisheries New Zealand (FNZ) advised they were reviewing the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) and Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) for Red snapper 1 & 2.

Red snapper were introduced into the Quota Management System (QMS) in 2004 and there has been no formal review of the stocks since 2004.

Submissions in response to the FNZ proposals were due by 26 July. The New Zealand Sport Fishing Council worked with LegaSea and the New Zealand Angling & Casting Association to submit a response by 26 July 2019.

On 27 September the Minister, Stuart Nash, announced his approval for a reduction in the TACC applying in Red snapper 1, from 124 tonnes (t) to 64 t, and an increase in the Red snapper 2 TACC, from 21 t to 81 t. The changes apply from 1 October 2019.

Proposal

Fisheries New Zealand is proposing the Minister of Fisheries reduces the TACC in Red snapper 1 by 48% and increases the TACC in Red snapper 2 by 386%. Other management settings and allowances will be retained.

Table 1: Proposed Total Allowable Catches (TACs), Total Allowable Commercial Catches (TACCs), and allowances for Red snapper 1 & 2, in tonnes.

Submission

The New Zealand Sport Fishing Council worked with LegaSea, the New Zealand Angling & Casting Association, a range of individuals and groups to develop a submission in response to the proposals. The joint submitters were appalled at the lack of data available for these stocks and the inaction by Fisheries New Zealand to address the depletion, especially in Red snapper 1.

Our submission called for urgent action as catch had been unconstrained for 40 years and the catch limits set at their introduction into the QMS had been ineffective in controlling commercial effort.

Relevant information

2019

Minister’s decision

Fisheries New Zealand

Submission

Proposal