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Fisheries Plans

Kia ora tätou. Welcome to the New Zealand fisheries plans web pages.

New Zealanders fish for recreation, custom, tradition, and for a living, and many businesses and communities rely on fish and the marine environment. So it’s important that our fisheries are managed so all New Zealanders benefit.

That’s why the Ministry of Fisheries is keen to work with tangata whenua and all fisheries stakeholders to develop fisheries plans. Fisheries plans will describe how New Zealanders can get best value from their fisheries, within environmental limits, or standards, set by the Government. Fisheries plans will allow us to:

  • Specify government-set STANDARDS within which fisheries should be managed
  • Identify the VALUE different stakeholders obtain from the fishery
  • Set OBJECTIVES for a fishery to get best value
  • Design the MANAGEMENT of the fishery to achieve the objectives
  • Make fisheries management more TRANSPARENT

Fisheries plans will allow us to improve the way we prioritise use of Ministry resources and provide a clearer basis for monitoring performance of each fishery.


Coming Up This Month

21/05/08 Rock Lobster (CRA 3) Working Group Meeting: Finalise sections 1 - 4 of the Plan
28/05/08 Challenger finfish (FMA 7) MEETING 6: SETTING OBJECTIVES
29/05/08 West Coast North Island finfish (FMA 8, 9) Meeting 4: Customary information and goals and objectives
30/05/08 Highly Migratory Species Meeting 4: discussing goals and objectives
11/06/08 Paua (PAU 5A) Meeting 7: Review of customary fisheries, and continue determining goals and objectives

Latest News

CRA 3 MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES CONFIRMED
May 8, 2008
The CRA 3 Multi-stakeholder Fishing Forum has recently agreed to 14 management strategies for the Gisborne red rock lobster fishery. The proposed management strategies are designed to build a sustainable CRA 3 fishery, ensure a healthy CRA 3 fisheries environment, and provide a fishery for all sectors.
The CRA3 Forum has incorporated the agreed strategies into a second draft CRA 3 Fisheries Management Plan which has just been reviewed by the National Rock Lobster Management Group and science advisors.
Follow the link below to view the second draft of the CRA 3 Plan.

More >>

CHALLENGER FINFISH GROUP BEGINS OBJECTIVE SETTING
May 8, 2008
At its fifth meeting, the Challenger Inshore Finfish Plan Advisory Group reviewed the goals for the fishery it had brainstormed at earlier meetings. Three broad goals were agreed and the group then began setting specific objectives on how to get the best value from the fishery. Time was also spent discussing the draft Harvest Strategy Standard. Objective-setting will continue at the next meeting in late May.
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SECOND MEETING OF NORTH ISLAND WEST COAST FINFISH ADVISORY GROUP
April 11, 2008
The West Coast North Island Finfish Fisheries Plan Advisory Group had an excellent second meeting at the Manukau Cruising Club on 31 March. The Group is made up of representatives from iwi, commercial and recreational fishers and environmental groups. The Group discussed the current information about the fishery, which includes snapper, tarakihi, gurnard and john dory. The Group’s next meeting is scheduled for May.
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SOUTHERN SHELLFISH GROUP SET OBJECTIVES FOR FISHERY
April 11, 2008
At its seventh meeting, held on 29 March at MFish's Dunedin office, the Group agreed on goals and objectives for the Southern Shellfish Fisheries Plan. MFish is now checking the objectives against relevant laws and standards. The Group will meet again on 17 May when it will confirm these objectives and start assessing whether current management is on track to meet the objectives.
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NORTHLAND SCALLOP GROUP READY TO DISCUSS OBJECTIVES
April 11, 2008
The Northland Scallop Fishery Plan Advisory Group has finished revising the current management of the fishery and will begin developing draft objectives at its next meeting, planned for 15 May. Interested people can contact group members to discuss any ideas or concerns they have about the Northland Scallop fishery. Follow the link at the bottom of this story for further information and contact details.
More >>


Jonathan Peacey
National Manager Fisheries Operations

Fisheries Plans Quick Links

In Progress
Challenger finfish (FMA 7)
Foveaux Strait Dredge Oysters
Highly Migratory Species
Northland Scallops
Paua (PAU 5A)
Rock Lobster (CRA 3)
Southern shellfish (FMA 3, 5)
West Coast North Island finfish (FMA 8, 9)

In Future Years
Challenger Scallops and Oysters
Challenger shellfish (FMA 7)
Chatham Islands (FMA 4)
Coromandel Scallops
Deepwater complex (Orange roughy / Oreo)
Deepwater crab
East Coast North Island finfish (Area 2)
East Coast North Island shellfish (Area 2)
Freshwater General
Kermadec
Longline
Middle depths complex (Hoki)
North East Coast North Island finfish (FMA 1)
North East Coast North Island shellfish (FMA 1)
North Island Eels
Pelagic
Scampi
Seaweed
South Island Eels
Southern Blue Whiting
Southern finfish (FMA 3,5)
Southern reef fish (FMA 3,5)
Squid
West Coast North Island shellfish (FMA 8, 9)