Tarakihi catch reduction supported

September 19, 2018

Fisheries Inshore New Zealand (FINZ) is supportive of the announcement today that tarakihi catch on the east coast will be reduced by 20 percent while the commercial fishing industry works on a plan to rebuild the stock.

Fisheries Minister Stuart Nash has signalled that he wants the fishing industry to develop a more comprehensive plan before considering further management action next year.

FINZ chief executive, Dr Jeremy Helson, said that is good fisheries management.

“Industry has committed to implementing sound and innovative management of this important fishery, some 90 percent of which is sold domestically.

“While this decision will cause some financial strain for many in the inshore industry, we agree that this is necessary to rebuild the fishery,” said Helson.

In other reassessments of fisheries announced today, increases in catch limits have been announced for southern blue tuna, scampi and orange roughy while the Kaipara scallop fishery, already closed to commercial fishing has now been closed to recreational fishers.

In total there have been catch increases for 11 stocks and decreases for 12.

FINZ submission and strategy for tarakihi can be found here.

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