New Zealand Maintains Ban on Retaining North Island Reef Fish Bycatch

A proposal to allow certain reef fish species taken as bycatch in the fishery in the north of the North Island to be retained and sold by commercial fishers will not go ahead, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says.

My officials tested a proposal to remove a historic ban that prohibits commercial fishers from retaining 19 non-Quota Management species of reef fish caught as bycatch in these fisheries (FMA 1 and 9). The proposal would have allowed trawl, Danish seine, and bottom long line fishers to retain bycatch of these species.

I have weighed up the costs and benefits of the proposal, along with feedback from the recreational fishing community and the public, and decided to keep the current restrictions in place.

The ban was introduced in 1993 as part of a package of measures to protect reefs from commercial set net fishing and risks of overfishing.

Public consultation on the proposal received more than 22,000 submissions.

Some submitters sent a message that they were concerned about the ongoing sustainability of these reef-dwelling species, which have important ecological roles. They wanted commercial fishers who accidentally catch these fish to continue to return them to the sea, Mr Jones says.

I’m a huge supporter of our fishing industry which provides jobs in our communities and contributes around $1.5 billion to our economy.

I thank everyone who provided feedback. This is an important part of the democratic process and demonstrates the interest Kiwis have in our fisheries.

The proposal was part of a wider consultation on proposed amendments to commercial fishing regulations. The Minister’s decisions for the remainder of the proposed commercial fishing regulation changes will be announced in due course.