PĀUA CATCH LIMIT
There’s growing evidence of 
proportional allowances creeping 
into proposals from officials, 
Ministerial decisions and industry 
Fisheries Plans. The most recent 
example is the catch limit review 
for pāua on the lower east coast 
of the South Island (PAU 5D).
In June, Fisheries NZ proposed 
that because commercial interests 
want to reduce the commercial limit 
for pāua in this area by 25% - catch 
they weren’t taking anyway because 
there is not enough pāua in the 
fishery - the recreational allowance 
should also be cut by 25%.
Estimates of recreational harvest 
in the PAU 5D fishery sit just 
below the current allowance of 
22 tonnes.  To meet the proposed 
25% proportional reduction, 
daily bag limits for pāua would 
have to be reduced. Fisheries 
NZ indicated they will consult 
on bag limit changes next year.
In July, LegaSea and our partners 
rejected Fisheries NZ’s attempts at 
proportional allocation for the pāua 
fishery and other prized fish stocks. 
Our submissions reaffirmed the 
Minister’s statutory obligation to set 
a reasonable allowance for non-
commercial interests before setting 
any commercial catch limit.  We 
now await the Minister's decision.
LegaSea and the NZSFC will 
continue to push back attempts to 
force recreational fishing interests 
into a proportional share of a 
dysfunctional Quota Management 
System. Fish are a natural, public 
resource and must remain that way.
"Time and time again, the public has shown that 
when required we’re willing to contribute to healthier 
fisheries. But recreational fishers can’t compete with 
the fishing power of industrial trawlers scooping up 
and exporting the fish we are trying to conserve."
Pāua limits on the lower east 
coast of the South Island may 
need to meet a proposed 25% 
proportional reduction and daily 
bag limits would also have to 
be reduced by Fisheries NZ.
Photo - LegaSea
Feature
42  FISHING IN GODZONE MAGAZINE

View this content as a flipbook by clicking here.