New regulations for the East Otago Taiāpure

New fisheries regulations, including a ban on pāua gathering, to rebuild fish stocks within the East Otago Taiāpure will take effect next month.

From 12 December, it will be an offence to take or possess pāua within the taiāpure. Other changes also include a prohibition on the use of set nets, cutting attached kelp, and the filleting of fish at sea in the area.

These changes were recommended by the East Otago Taiāpure management committee.

“This is a popular fishing area for the community and public feedback supports these changes,” said Andrew Bell, The Ministry of Primary Industries manager of inshore fisheries.

“We are pleased to be able to support the efforts of the committee to ensure a sustainable fishery for future generations.”

The number of legal-sized pāua within the taiāpure has continued to decrease despite cutting the recreational bag limit from 10 to 5 in 2007, according to the surveys undertaken by Te Tiaki Mahinga Kai, a research and monitoring support team for customary protection area managers centred at the University of Otago.

Management committee spokesman Brendan Flack says along with the regulations, control of invasive marine pests and the pāua re-seeding programmes would also continue.

“These measures are needed now to maintain a healthy local fishery for the future,” says Flack.

From 12 December the new regulations will:

• close the East Otago Taiāpure to both commercial and recreational pāua fishing
• prohibit harvesting of attached kelp within the taiāpure
• prohibit commercial and recreational use of set-nets within the taiāpure
• require all recreational fishers to hold only whole or gutted fish when fishing within the taiāpure.

Find out more if these changes affect you on fisheries.govt.nz.

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