Ocean Fisheries Minister, Shane Jones says lower catch limits for tarakihi stocks will reduce fishing pressure and help promote the recovery of New Zealand’s tarakihi fishery.
The Minister has announced his decision to reduce commercial limits for the combined eastern tarakihi fishery by 20%; for the western fishery by around 55%; and to set a nationwide recreational daily limit of 10 tarakihi per person.
“These measures will immediately reduce fishing pressure on these tarakihi stocks and put them on more positive trajectories, while allowing a lower level of fishing to continue,” Mr Jones says.
“Around 95% of commercially caught tarakihi is sold and consumed in New Zealand. It’s clear that tarakihi is a Kiwi favourite and we all want plenty of them in the water to be enjoyed well into the future.
“My officials will closely monitor the fisheries and review tarakihi stocks again next year. A new scientific stock assessment of east coast tarakihi will be undertaken in 2027, and an updated assessment for the west coast stock is planned for 2028.”
The changes are part of formal reviews undertaken twice-yearly on a range of fish stocks to ensure long-term sustainability and are based on the best available science and information.
The review included proposals for management settings for 22 fish stocks around the country.
“In making my decisions, I have considered the latest science, recent catch information, what fishers are seeing on the water, climate impacts, uncertainty about future numbers of young fish, and the effects of the different options on people who use the fishery,” Mr Jones says.
“Where the evidence suggested more fish can be sustainably harvested, I have made catch increases, including for snapper and trevally on the North Island’s east coast, leatherjacket on the east and south coast of the South Island, and several deepwater stocks such as frostfish and blue mackerel.
“Where there is evidence of stocks under pressure, I have made catch reductions, such as for stargazer and ling on the West Coast and top of the South Island.
“I have also taken a cautious approach for butterfish in this region. Changes in the fishery and pressures on butterfish habitat support action now, which is why I have reduced commercial catch limits and allowances and set a recreational daily limit of 5 butterfish per person.
“I have decided to adjust deemed value rates for six stocks. These are the fees fishers must pay for fish caught in excess of their annual catch entitlement.
“My decisions consider both sustainability and utilisation of our fisheries resources. It makes sense to allow fishing where there is no sustainability concern, but where evidence shows otherwise, we need to give the stock time to recover to make sure there are plenty of fish in the water for future generations to enjoy.”
More information including the decision letter can be found on MPI’s website.
