Media Release By the Ministry of Fisheries

11 July 2006

Fisheries sustainability review underway

The annual review of management measures for selected New Zealand fisheries has begun with the release of consultation documents on the Ministry of Fisheries (MFish) website, www.fish.govt.nz.

The aim of the review is to ensure that fisheries are used in a sustainable way. As new information comes to hand, adjustments to management measures are necessary to achieve stock sustainability.

Proposals for changes to sustainability measures are available under the ‘Consultations’ heading on the MFish website www.fish.govt.nz. People with an interest in fisheries can make a submission on the proposed sustainability measures to the Ministry of Fisheries. Submissions close on 31 July 2006.

This year’s review includes the possible adjustment of overall catch limits for fisheries such as paua in Fiordland, orange roughy in northern and southern New Zealand, rig in northern South Island, and alfonsino in northern North Island. In addition, the overall catch limits for a number of fisheries mainly taken as bycatch to commercial fishing activities are also being reviewed. New sustainability measures agreed to by Minister of Fisheries Jim Anderton will be implemented from the start of the new fishing year (1 October 2006).

A number of regulatory measures are also being consulted on at this time, so that any management measures agreed to by the Minister can be put in place for April 2007. Adjustments to regulatory measures are made for various reasons, including to help fishers get best value from the fishery, to manage environmental effects of fishing and to assist sustainability.

Items in this regulatory review include measures applicable to freshwater eels, cockle in the Otago area, rock lobster in Southland, paua on the west coast of the South Island, and a number of other technical amendments for a range of fisheries. These proposals are also due to be available on the MFish website under “Consultations” and submissions close on 25 August 2006.

ENDS

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