Public feedback is being sought on proposed changes to the Fisheries Act, which Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says are the most significant sector reforms in decades.
The proposed changes aim to streamline regulations, improve data collection, and enhance sustainability while protecting fishers’ privacy.
The consultation document outlines options to set sustainable catch limits, refine onboard camera regulations, and improve discard rules under the Quota Management System.
The proposals follow discussions from a seafood industry forum established last year.
Jones says sustainability is a core principle of these changes, aiming to boost revenue through efficiency rather than increasing catch quotas, as the industry generates $1.6 billion in exports and directly employs 9,000 people.
Māori collectives, including iwi trusts across Aotearoa, hold $2.3 billion worth of assets in the fisheries sector.
This includes Moana New Zealand, the country’s largest 100 percent iwi-owned seafood business, which has a 50% share in Sealord.
Submissions on the proposals close at 5 p.m. on 28 March 2025, with public online meetings set to begin in two weeks.
Details are available on the Ministry for Primary Industries website.
