Catch limits cuts for Northland rock lobster fishery
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catch limits for Northland’s rock lobster fishery will reduce by 21 tonnes. Photo: Rexness | Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
After public consultation and consideration of advice from Fisheries New Zealand, catch limits for Northland’s rock lobster fishery will reduce by 21 tonnes from 1 April.
The decision, approved by the minister, takes a “precautionary approach” to increase rock lobster abundance in the fishery and contribute to controlling kina populations over time, said Emma Taylor, director fisheries management.
Rock lobsters play an important role in ecosystems as predators, feeding on a wide range of prey including kina (sea urchins).
“In Northland, there is evidence that spiny rock lobster abundance is below a level that enables them to play their part in controlling kina populations, which in high abundance are known to cause ‘kina barrens’, resulting in less biologically diverse marine habitats.”
Taylor stated the effectiveness of the new catch settings will be assessed and a further review may be considered for April 2024.
Rock lobsters, also known as spiny red rock lobster, crayfish, and kōura, are a taonga for tangata whenua and a popular species for commercial and recreational fishers.
“They provide food for whānau, support valuable export markets and local economies, and provide jobs in our communities,” said Taylor.
The changes, which come into effect at the start of the new fishing year, on 1 April include:
- The total allowable catch (TAC) decreases by 21 tonnes to 172 tonnes.
- This reduces the commercial limit by 16 tonnes to 89 tonnes, and the recreational allowance by five tonnes to 22 tonnes.
- The customary Māori allowance and the allowance for all other mortality, such as illegal take, will remain the same.
The recreational daily bag limit will reduce from six to three spiny rock lobster per fisher per day from 15 April to manage recreational take within the new allowance.
The decision follows a consultation held earlier this year, as part of Fisheries New Zealand’s regular review of sustainability measures, and responds to findings in a recent High Court judgment on last year’s decision for the fishery.
