Inner Tasman Bay Commercial Fishing Closure

Inner Tasman Bay Commercial Fishing Closure

The inner Tasman Bay is to be closed to commercial fishing using some fishing methods from 27 April 2010 until the start of the next fishing year on 1 October 2010.

Under Fisheries Regulations, the Chief Executive of the Ministry of Fisheries is required to close the inner Tasman Bay to all commercial fishing using pair trawling, or Danish seining and all snapper fishing using a surrounding net (that is not a drag net) if the commercial catch of snapper in Tasman and Golden Bays (an area known as statistical area 038) exceeds 100 tonnes by the end of February.

Commercial catch reports show snapper catch in the area at the end of February exceeded 100 tonnes, therefore the inner waters of Tasman Bay must now be closed to commercial fishing using the specified fishing methods.

Commercial fishing by other methods such as single trawling and long-lining is not affected by the closure.

The fishery will reopen for all commercial fishers once the new fishing year starts on 1 October 2010.

This closure does not affect recreational or customary fishing for snapper in Tasman Bay and all normal recreational fishing rules apply.

A map of the closed area will be available on the Ministry of Fisheries website at www.fish.govt.nz

ENDS

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