Source: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries
About commercial fishing exceptions
Under the Fisheries Act 1996, commercial fishers are prohibited from returning or abandoning to the sea, or other waters, any fish or shellfish that are subject to the Quota Management System (QMS). However, section 72A(2) of the act allows for exceptions to the rule.
Section 72A(2) of the Fisheries Act 1996 – NZ Legislation
Have your say
Fisheries New Zealand is reviewing the current commercial landing exception for spiny dogfish, which allows commercial fishers to return spiny dogfish to the sea, whether alive or dead.
Spiny dogfish ammoniate (show signs of spoiling) rapidly. Quick processing is needed to prevent cross-contamination of other catch on board fishing vessels. The species also has 2 dorsal spines that can damage other catch and cause injuries to the crew if not handled carefully. Due to the schooling behaviour of spiny dogfish, large quantities of the species can be inadvertently caught (known as bycatch) in a single event, making it impractical for fishers to separate and manage catches of spiny dogfish before they damage other catch.
Fisheries New Zealand is proposing to continue to allow a landing exception so that commercial fishers can return spiny dogfish to the sea, whether alive or dead.
We’d like your feedback on this proposal. Consultation is open from 6 November to 18 December 2025.
Consultation document
Commercial landing exception: spiny dogfish [PDF, 428 KB]
Related documents
Commercial landing exceptions: Policy context and legal overview [PDF, 387 KB]
Commercial landing exception review: Operational guidelines [PDF, 390 KB]
Making your submission
Email your feedback by 5pm on 18 December to FMSubmissions@mpi.govt.nz
A template is available to help you complete your submission. It includes questions you may like to answer to help you with your submission and further space for any other feedback.
Submissions template [DOCX, 108 KB]
While we prefer email, you can post written submissions to:
Fisheries Management – National Direction
Fisheries New Zealand
Ministry for Primary Industries
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140.
What to include
Make sure you tell us in your submission:
- your name and title
- your organisation’s name (if you are submitting on behalf of an organisation)
- your contact details (such as phone number, address, and email).
Submissions are public information
Note that all, part, or a summary of your submission may be published on this website. Most often this happens when we issue a document that reviews the submissions received.
People can also ask for copies of submissions under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA says we must make the content of submissions available unless we have good reason for withholding it. Those reasons are detailed in sections 6 and 9 of the OIA.
If you think there are grounds to withhold specific information from publication, make this clear in your submission or contact us. Reasons may include that it discloses commercially sensitive or personal information. However, any decision MPI makes to withhold details can be reviewed by the Ombudsman, who may direct us to release it.
