The head of Māori-owned Moana New Zealand says an increase in snapper quota off the North Island’s west coast will relieve by-catch pressure in the fishery.
For the new fishing year which started on Tuesday, the total allowable commercial catch for the fishery increased from 640 to 2240 tonnes.
Steve Tarrant says stock numbers have grown significantly over the past decade, causing problems with by-catch.
“Snapper is a predatory species so it’s pushing out other species and that along with the ability of our fishers to try and stay away from snapper because of the limited ACE (annual catch entitlement) or quota available, we are very comfortable with where the minister’s decision has landed,” he says.
Mr Tarrant says cuts to South Island fisheries like the Challenger Plateau orange roughy stock and Southland blue cod show the minister is following the science in managing the fisheries.
