-
snapper - a daily bag limit of 10.
-
hapuku/bass and kingfish - a combined daily bag limit
of 5 with no more than 3 kingfish.
-
freshwater eels - a daily bag limit of 6.
Nuova Zelanda
Play your part to conserve the resource
Fishing is one of New Zealand's most popular
recreational activities. Every year a large number of finfish, rock lobster and
shellfish are taken by recreational fishers. This can seriously affect local
fisheries. This means it is important for all fishers to act responsibly and
help conserve the resource.
Know the limits
Commercial fishers must have a current fishing permit and are subject to strict quotas or limits on how much they can catch, along with many other controls. The restrictions on recreational fishers are relatively simple. The three main things to remember are:
Don't take undersized fish.
Don't sell or trade your catch.
Only those people physically involved in taking finfish,
rock lobster, or shellfish are entitled to claim a catch within the daily limit.
You should also be aware of the restrictions on the fishing gear and methods you
can use.
Alive and unharmed
Unlawfully taken fish (such as fish taken in excess of
your daily limit, undersized fish, or fish taken with undersized mesh) must be
immediately returned to the water. Fish taken alive should be handled with wet
cotton or rubber gloves or at least wet hands and returned to the water very
gently, allowing the fish to slide into the water from as close to the surface
as possible. It is important to return fish, especially shellfish and rock
lobster, as near as possible to the place where they were found. Dead fish that
are taken unlawfully must also be returned to the water. If you encounter large
numbers of undersized fish then change locations or use a larger hook size.
A guide
These notes provide a guide to the regulations. For
full details on amateur fishing restrictions, contact you nearest Ministry of
Fisheries office. A complete copy of the law (including the Fisheries Act 1983
and the Fisheries Act 1996 and associated regulations) are available from
Bennetts Government Bookshops.
The information contained in this section only applies
to to the Central areas (see diagram below). For general information on the North
and South areas please contact your local Ministry of Fisheries office or the
relevant section of this website.
FINFISH - Bag limits and size
restrictions
|
- |
blue cod* |
|
- |
blue moki |
|
- |
bluenose |
|
- |
butterfish |
|
- |
elephant fish |
|
- |
flatfish |
|
- |
grey mullet |
|
- |
John dory |
|
- |
kahawai |
|
- |
red cod |
|
- |
red gurnard |
|
- |
red moki |
|
- |
rig |
|
- |
school shark |
|
- |
tarakihi |
|
- |
trevally |
Additionally, individual limits, over and above the
combined bag, apply to:
|
|
|
|
- |
snapper - a daily bag limit of 10. |
|
- |
hapuku/bass and kingfish - a combined daily bag limit
of 5 with no more than 3 kingfish. |
|
- |
freshwater eels - a daily bag limit of 6. |
Blue Cod
A new recreational daily bag limit of three blue cod, with a new minimum size limit of 30 cm takes effect on 1 October 2003 for the Challenger East Area around the top of the South Island (Farewell Spit to the Clarence River, see map below). See press release,
There is no limit on species not named above.
Length measurement
Finfish length is measured from the tip of the nose to
the rear end of the middle ray of the tail fin as shown below.
FINFISH - Method and species restrictions
Line
fishing
|
|
|
|
- |
No person may use or be in possession of more than
one line (other than handlines or rod and reel lines). Note: Quinnat
salmon fishers are only permitted one line. |
|
- |
All surface floats attached to any line must be
marked with the fisher's initials and surname. |
|
- |
No person may use or possess a line with more than 25
hooks. |
|
- |
Where more than one person is using a line from a
vessel (other than rod and reel lines), no more than two lines (other than
rod and reel lines) may be used, set from or possessed on board that
vessel. |
No person shall take any eels from Lake Horowhenua or
the Hokio Stream unless that person does so in exercise of fishing rights
pursuant to Section 18 of The Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Act 1956.
General
netting restrictions
|
|
|
|
- |
No person may set or possess more than one drag net,
set net, fyke net, or any other type of net at any one time. |
|
- |
Nets must be hauled by hand. |
|
- |
Any net or nets used either individually or jointly
must not extend across more than one-quarter of the width of any river,
stream, channel, bay or sound. |
|
- |
No person may set or use a baited net. |
Set
net restrictions
|
|
|
|
- |
Only one set net is allowed to be used from, or be on
board, any vessel. An additional baitfish net is allowed so long as it is
less than 10 metres long and has mesh size of 50 mm or less. |
|
- |
Must not exceed 60 metres in length. |
|
- |
Must not be set within 60 metres of another net. |
|
- |
Must not be secured by stakes. |
|
- |
Each end of a set net must have a surface float
marked with the fisher's initials and surname. |
|
- |
Must not be used in a way that causes fish to be
stranded by the falling tide. |
Drag
net restrictions
|
|
|
|
- |
Drag nets must not exceed 40 metres in length. |
|
- |
Total warp length must not exceed 200 metres. |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
SHELLFISH - How to measure shellfish
Scuba gear (does not include snorkels)
Open season for scallops
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
* Scallops, dredge oysters and paua may not be
possessed out of the shell seaward of the mean high water at any time. ** Rock oysters and Pacific oysters must not be
opened while they adhere to the object on which they grow. *** Toheroa must not be taken, possessed, or
disturbed unless an open season is declared by the Chief Executive of the
Ministry of Fisheries. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ROCK LOBSTER - Daily limit
No person may take or possess more than 6 rock lobsters
(both species combined) taken on any one day.
Minimum sizes
No person may take or possess:
|
|
|
|
- |
Male spiny rock lobster with a tail width less than
54 mm. |
|
- |
Female spiny rock lobster with a tail width less than
60 mm. |
|
- |
Packhorse rock lobster (either sex) with a tail
length less than 216 mm. |
If you are unsure of the sex, use the 60 mm measurement
and you will be safe.
Packhorse rock lobster
The tail length is measured along the underside in a
straight line from the rear of the calcified bar on the first segment to the tip
of the middle fan of the tail.
Protected rock lobster
The following types of rock lobster must be returned
immediately to the water:
|
|
|
|
- |
Undersized rock lobsters. |
|
- |
Any rock lobster carrying external eggs (these are
carried between the pleopods on the underside of the tail). |
|
- |
Any rock lobster in the soft shell stage. |
|
- |
Any rock lobster that cannot be measured (e.g.
because of damage to the tail preventing accurate measurement). |
Method restrictions
It is an offence to:
|
|
|
|
- |
Remove external eggs or the egg-bearing appendages
from any rock lobster. |
|
- |
Use a spear or any device which could puncture the
shell when taking rock lobsters, or possess any rock lobster which has
been speared. |
|
- |
Set a rock lobster pot unless the pot and the surface
float are marked with the fisher's initials and surname. |
|
- |
Set or possess a rock lobster pot unless it has an
escape gap as detailed in the "ESCAPE GAPS FOR ROCK LOBSTER POTS"
section. |
Escape gaps for rock lobster pots
|
|
|
|
- |
Round or beehive shaped pots must have at least 3
escape gaps/or apertures (other than the mouth). Each aperture must have
an inside dimension of not less than 54 mm x 200 mm. |
|
|
|
|
- |
Square or rectangular shaped pots must have at least
two escape gaps/or apertures (other than the mouth) in opposite faces of
the pot. Each aperture shall not be less than 80% of the height or length
of the face of the pot in which the apertures are contained. Each aperture
shall have an inside dimension of not less than 54 mm x 200 mm. |
|
- |
Any rock lobster pot constructed entirely of
unaltered spot welded mesh with inside dimensions of 54 mm x 140 mm does
not have to have escape gaps/or apertures. |
|
- |
No escape gap or aperture shall be incorporated in
either the top or the bottom of any pot. |
|
- |
Escape gaps or apertures are designed to allow
undersized rock lobster to escape. |
How to measure a spiny rock lobster
The tail width is measured in a straight line between
the tips of the two large (primary) spines on the segment of the tail, as shown
in the diagram which follows:
The sex is easily determined:
|
|
|
|
- |
Females have small pincers on the rear pair of legs. |
|
- |
Pleopods are in paired form on each side of the under
surface of female tails, and are in single form in male tails. |
If you are unsure of the sex, use the 60 mm measurement
and you will be safe.
How to measure a packhorse rock lobster
The tail length is measured along the underside in a
straight line from the rear of the calcified bar on the first segment to the tip
of the middle fan of the tail.
Closed Season
No person may set any pot, or take or possess rock
lobster, in the area from East Cape Lighthouse to the mouth of the Wairoa River
from 1 September to 30 November inclusive.
Rock Lobster Pot Limits
Boundary: From Te Arai Point north of Auckland
southward around the coast to East Cape, down the East Coast around the bottom
of the North Island and up to the mouth of the Manawatu River.
|
|
|
|
- |
There is a limit of three pots per person. |
|
- |
There is a maximum of six pots per vessel (two or
more people). |
Sugar Loaf Islands Marine Park Restrictions
ZONE 1 AND 3:
(i) Use of nets or set lines is prohibited.
(ii) Use of any line with more than 3 hooks is prohibited.
(iii) No person shall be in possession of fishing gear within this zone that is
not permitted to be used in the zone unless the gear is stowed or sealed in such
a manner that it cannot be readily used for fishing.
Fisheries Infringement Notice Process
The infringement notice process is set out in the
Fisheries Act 1996 and the Summary Proceedings Act 1957. These Acts detail the
way in which infringement notices may be served and the administrative process
relating to each notice.
Fishery Officers may issue infringement notices when
they believe a person has committed one of a number of fisheries offences that
are prescribed as an infringement offence in the Fisheries (Infringement
Offences) Regulations 2001.
The fishery officer may serve the notice personally or
attach the notice to the fishing vessel relating to the commission of the
offence. The notice may also be posted it to the person's address. The notice is
then deemed to have been legally served.
Action must be taken no later than 28 days after the
ticket was issued. If the infringement fee is paid within the 28 days after the
issue of the notice no further proceedings will be taken.
If you wish to deny the offence, or give an explanation
as to why you committed the offence, you must contact the Ministry, in writing,
within 28 days after the ticket was issued. You may also choose to have the
matter heard in Court. If the matter isn't progressed in some way within the 28
days a reminder notice will be sent to your last known address.
If, after another 28 days, the matter still hasn't been
resolved, the issuing authority will usually lodge the matter with the Court as
an unpaid infringement fee. It then becomes a matter for the Department for
Courts. Additional costs are added to the original fee.
Options you have:
infringement notice.
If the fine is paid within 28 days no further action
will be taken.
If you wish to offer an explanation, deny the offence
and request a court hearing, or admit the offence but make written submissions
to the Court for consideration, you must write to the Ministry of Fisheries.
The Ministry may:
Cancel the infringement notice and fee, but issue a
warning.
Request more information to assist in a decision.
Reject your explanation and requires you to pay the fine.
If your explanation is not accepted you will be sent a
letter outlining any further options you may have (such as requesting a hearing)
before the matter is lodged in the Court.
Paying a Fisheries Infringement Fee
Infringement fees can be paid by cash or cheque at any
branch of Westpac Trust. You must ensure you have the infringement notice or
reminder notice with you for the bank to be able to accept payments, OR you can
send a cheque or money order to:
Ministry of Fisheries
PO Box 6413
WELLINGTON
For further information regarding the fines process -
Department for Courts - http://www.fines.govt.nz/flowchart.html
Citizens Advice Bureau - http://www.cab.org.nz/information/Court_Fines.html
Requests for review or complaints
All requests for a review of a notice and/or a complaint must be put in writing
to:
Infringement Processing Centre,
Ministry of Fisheries,
PO Box 6413,
Wellington
- and must be signed by the person named in the notice.
Please include all of the following:
The notice number.
Your full name and address for replies.
A contact telephone number.
Your letter should include a copy (not the original) of
any supporting documentation you have. All requests are read and acknowledged.
Responses take a minimum of 7 days.
Note: As these requests require a signature, we are
unable to accept them via email at the present time.
What is the infringement fee for….
|
Recreational
Offences |
|
|
|
|
|
Taking undersize fish |
$250 |
|
|
|
|
Using illegal gear |
$250 |
|
|
|
|
Taking excess fish up to 1x over the bag limit |
$250 |
|
|
|
|
Taking prohibited species (toheroa, Black Coral) |
$500 |
|
|
|
|
Taking excess fish between 1x and 2x over the bag
limit |
$500 |
|
|
|
|
Commercial
Offences |
|
|
|
|
|
Filing a fishing return between the 16th and 21st of
the month is which it was due |
$400 |
|
|
|
|
Filing a nil return after the 15th of the month in
which it was due |
$400 |
|
|
|
|
Filing a fishing return between the 21st of the month
in which it was due and the 15th of the following month. |
$750 |
Who can receive a fisheries infringement notice….
Fisheries Infringement notices may be issued to any person 17 years of age and
over who has committed an offence against the fisheries infringement regulations.
Depending on the type of offence this could include all members of a fishing
party where the offenders cannot adequately identify their own individual catch
