Islanders get more control over Chathams’ paua fishery

Chatham Islands iwi, community, industry and the Fisheries Ministry have agreed on a new plan to manage the country’s largest commercial paua fishery.

Fisheries Minister Stuart Nash says the plan formalises voluntary arrangements quota holders have had since 2010 to shelve some annual catch entitlement in an effort to reverse the decline in the fishery.

He says it will result in more timely, transparent and localised decisions about how to manage the commercial harvesting of paua under the quota management system.

It covers procedures such as handling, harvesting and landing paua, biosecurity measures, protecting it from theft, use of underwater breathing apparatus by divers, access to the sea over private property, and even how to report shark sightings.

Mr Nash says managing the fishery on a smaller scale will provide valuable local data about paua so the rules for controlling the harvest can be adjusted accordingly.

Follow us on &

Copyright © 2019, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com

RELATED NEWS

COVID funding for Raukūmara forest recovery Waiheke protest clear-out "overreaction" New chair for Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa