Source: Ministry for Primary Industries
Have your say
Fisheries New Zealand is seeking your ideas and feedback on proposed changes to the blue cod (rāwaru) seasonal closure in the Marlborough Sounds (Te Tauihu-o-te-waka) to reduce fishing pressure.
Your input is also sought in developing a package of wider potential measures to ensure long-term sustainability of the fishery. Submissions can be made by email or post using the form provided, before 5pm on 1 December 2024.
Public drop-in information sessions
During consultation, we will be holding public drop-in sessions to present information, answer questions, and assist you with making a submission. These will be hosted by Fisheries New Zealand officials and Marlborough Sounds Blue Cod Technical Group members at:
- Tasman Bay Cruising Club in Nelson/Whakatū on Tuesday, 12 November (4.30pm to 7.30pm)
- Queen Charlotte Yacht Club in Picton/Waitohi on Thursday, 14 November ( 4.30pm to 7.30pm).
About the proposed changes and potential measures
Marlborough Sounds blue cod are a taonga which play an important role in the local ecosystem, and support an iconic fishery for many Kiwis.
Over the years, pressure on the stock has increased, with high fishing effort and cumulative stressors such as sedimentation, benthic disturbance, and marine heatwaves.
Independent surveys and reports from many fishers and long-time residents demonstrate low levels of abundance, and a growing community concern about the sustainability of the stock. In 2021, a potting survey indicated that significant overfishing is very likely occurring and retrospectively has been for a significant time.
In response, the then Minister for Oceans and Fisheries in 2022 decided to cut the commercial catch limit, or TACC, and form a multi-sector group to identify measures to reduce fishing pressure.
This group (the Marlborough Sounds Blue Cod Technical Group) met throughout 2023, and provided the Minister with a report of their findings. FNZ is now consulting on a potential change to the seasonal closure in the Marlborough Sounds, and seeking input in developing a package of wider measures to ensure long-term sustainability.
Consultation documents:
Summary of proposals:
Proposal to extend the seasonal closure (from December 2025):
- Extending the seasonal closure to all blue cod take, from 1 September – 19 December currently, to 31 December, 5 January, or 15 January.
Potential measures that could be considered for a wider package
- Spawning recovery areas, to rebuild spawning populations across the Sounds.
- Reducing the combined daily bag limit from 20 finfish currently, to 10 or 6 finfish.
- A refreshed educational campaign – how can we maximise outreach and provide the right information for fishers to minimise their impacts?
- Options to enhance fine-scale recreational fishing information – voluntary catch reporting, survey mailing lists, additional monitoring, or any other ideas.
- Tools to mitigate predation and release mortality – what is your experience with these issues and potential solutions?
Related information:
Plans and strategies
Rules and legislation
Science and monitoring
Making your submission
Fisheries New Zealand welcomes your views on the topics above and encourages you to use the submission template provided with your rationale and supporting. You can make your submission anytime before consultation closes on Sunday, 1 December 2024, at 5pm.
Submission form [DOCX, 84 KB]
Email your submission to FMsubmissions@mpi.govt.nz
While we prefer email, you can also post written submissions to:
Marlborough Sounds Blue Cod Review
Fisheries New Zealand
Private Bag 14
Nelson 7042
New Zealand
If you require hard copies of the consultation document or any other information, email FMsubmissions@mpi.govt.nz
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.
