Source: Ministry for Primary Industries
Feedback from the public is being sought on 2 proposed measures to help address kina barrens and rebalance local ecosystems, says Minister for Oceans and Fisheries Shane Jones.
“Kina barrens are a concern for iwi, local communities, and recreational fishers in Northland, as they are a major threat to biodiversity,” said Mr Jones.
“I have instructed my officials at Fisheries New Zealand to begin public consultation on measures to address kina barrens.”
Kina barrens are areas of rocky reef where healthy kelp forests have been consumed by an excess of kina to form a bare, or barren, space, making it uninviting to other marine life.
The proposals include a new special permit for targeted culling, harvest, or translocation of kina and long-spined sea urchins, and options to increase recreational daily bag limits for kina in the Auckland East Fisheries Management Area.
The proposed special permit would allow the removal of kina and long-spined sea urchins from areas where there are already kina barrens or areas that are at risk of forming new barrens. Special permits would also enable kina to be moved to other areas with low kina density to improve their food value, or to be used in aquaculture projects.
The proposed increase to the daily bag limit would affect the Auckland East Fisheries Management Area, which covers the east coast of Northland, the Hauraki Gulf, Coromandel, and Bay of Plenty. The current daily bag limit for kina is 50 per fisher. Proposed options are to increase this limit to 100 or 150 kina per fisher per day.
“Kina barrens occur in other regions of New Zealand, however they are most commonly found in Northland. Raising the daily bag limit for this area means that locals can help deal with kina barrens by taking more kina, and benefiting from the overabundance of this kaimoana.”
“These measures aren’t a silver bullet for kina barrens, what they will do is empower the communities most impacted by kina barrens, including tangata whenua, to play an important role in fixing the issue by removing unwanted kina. I also see an opportunity for younger people to get involved and learn about their local marine ecosystem and take part in restoring and preserving its ongoing health.”
“The consultation is open now, I’m interested in hearing from any members of the public with an interest in the issue.”
Once consultation closes, Fisheries New Zealand will analyse the submissions and provide advice to Mr Jones for consideration.
Submissions can be made online until 5pm on 3 May 2024.
More information, including how to make a submission:
Recreational bag limit for kina in Auckland Fisheries Management Area consultation
Special permit for removal of kina and long-spined sea urchins consultation
