A recreational fishing advocacy group says new reductions to tarakihi catch limits do not go far enough, accusing the Government of putting commercial fishing interests ahead of rebuilding depleted stocks.
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced a 20 percent reduction in commercial limits for the combined eastern tarakihi fishery and around a 55 percent reduction in the western fishery. A nationwide recreational daily limit of 10 tarakihi per person will also be introduced.
The New Zealand Sport Fishing Council says stronger action is needed. Its assessment of Fisheries New Zealand data puts the east coast stock at around 7.7 percent of spawning biomass, while the combined west coast stock is estimated at around 29 percent and below the soft limit. The Council had advocated substantially deeper commercial reductions to accelerate rebuilding.
The Government says its decisions are based on the latest science, catch information, climate impacts and uncertainty about future recruitment, while balancing the interests of people who use the fishery. Jones says the reductions will immediately lower fishing pressure and put tarakihi on a more positive trajectory.
Tarakihi is particularly important domestically, with the Government saying around 95 percent of the commercial catch is sold and consumed in New Zealand. Fisheries New Zealand also recognises tarakihi as taonga for Māori.
The debate now centres on how quickly the stocks should be rebuilt and whether the new limits strike the right balance between commercial, recreational and environmental interests.
The Government plans another review next year, with a new scientific assessment of east coast tarakihi scheduled for 2027 and an updated west coast assessment planned for 2028.
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