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For orange roughy in the ORH7A area, quota holders themselves requested significant reductions, pending further scientific research
Seafood New Zealand Welcomes New Fishing Catch Limits Announced in September Sustainability Review
NEW ZEALAND
Tuesday, October 01, 2024, 00:10 (GMT + 9)
Seafood New Zealand, representing the nation’s commercial fishers, has expressed strong support for the updated fishing limits announced over the weekend by the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries. The new regulations raise commercial catch limits for ten species across 13 fishing areas, while reducing limits for five species in five areas, as stated in a recent press release by the organization.
Lisa Futschek, CEO of Seafood New Zealand, highlighted the increase in the Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) for snapper as a particularly welcome development among fishers.
 "Fishers have been telling us for quite some time that snapper stocks are booming. In fact, in some regions, snapper has become a 'choke' species. This means fishers hit their catch limit for snapper before they can catch other desired species, effectively 'choking' their ability to fish for other types," Futschek explained.
Seafood New Zealand has actively supported scientific efforts to collect and analyze data, confirming these increased fish numbers. "The science backs up what fishers have been observing — snapper populations have risen significantly," Futschek added.
The Minister also announced reductions in TACC for orange roughy and blue cod in specific areas where stock numbers are under pressure, a move that Futschek views positively.
"Good fisheries management requires adjusting catch limits both up and down. The cuts for blue cod in Southland reflect the Minister's attention to tangata whenua perspectives and local submissions, with a focus on rebuilding the stock," she noted.
Photo: Garry Kerr/YouTube
For orange roughy in the ORH7A area, quota holders themselves requested significant reductions, pending further scientific research. "We fully support sustainable management of orange roughy stocks, and our industry is currently conducting research to gain a clearer understanding of their status," Futschek emphasized.
In addition to formal sustainability measures, the industry has taken voluntary actions, such as self-suspending MSC certification for orange roughy from the east and south Chatham Rise while further research is conducted to assess the fishery's condition.
As the new commercial fishing year begins on October 1st, Futschek is optimistic. "It’s encouraging to see that the increases in stocks outnumber the reductions, which shows our management systems are effective, and our fish are in better shape because of it," she said.
"Ultimately, our industry’s ability to provide nutritious, high-quality protein to New Zealanders and consumers worldwide hinges on sustainably harvesting our kaimoana. We are fully committed to ensuring the fishery remains science-backed and sustainable for generations to come."
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