UPDATE – 16 December 2019
Temporary closure of Waiopuka, Kaikōura, to the take of fish, aquatic life, or seaweed
Pursuant to section 186B of the Fisheries Act 1996, notification is given of the Fisheries (Waiopuka Temporary Closure) Notice 2019. The notice closes Waiopuka to the take of any species of fish, aquatic life, or seaweed from 16 December 2019 until 15 December 2021. The closure was requested by the Kaikōura Marine Guardians.
The temporary closure includes all that area of South Island fisheries waters enclosed by a line:
- commencing at a point at the North Wharf (at 42°24.79′S and 173°42.19′E); then
- proceeding in a straight line in a north-easterly direction to a point at Nine Pin Rock (at 42°24.54′S and 173°42.32′E); then
- proceeding in a straight line in a south-easterly direction to a point at St Kilda Rocks (at 42°24.80′S and 173°42.80′E); then
- proceeding in a straight line in a south-westerly direction to a point (at 42°25.01′S and 173°42.57′E); then
- proceeding in straight line in a westerly direction to a point on the coast (at 42°25.02′S and 173°42.50′E); and then
- proceeding in a north-westerly direction along the mean high-water springs mark of the coast of the South Island to the point of commencement.
Further information about temporary closures is available on the Fisheries New Zealand website or by contacting the local Ministry for Primary Industries office.
Your views were sought
The Kaikōura Marine Guardians have requested a temporary closure of an area of South Island fisheries waters at Waiopuka, Kaikōura, to the take of any species of fish, aquatic life, or seaweed, for a 2-year period.
Fisheries New Zealand invites written submissions in response to this request from persons who have an interest in the stock concerned or in the effects of fishing in the area concerned.
Find out more about temporary closures
Background to consultation
Section 186B provides that the director-general may temporarily close an area of South Island fisheries waters, or temporarily restrict or prohibit the use of any fishing method in respect of an area if satisfied that the closure, restriction, or prohibition:
- will assist in replenishing the stocks concerned, or
- recognise and provide for the use and management practices of tangata whenua in the exercise of non-commercial fishing rights.
The Kaikōura Marine Guardians consider that a temporary closure will:
- replenish the stocks of the species of fish, aquatic life, and seaweed in the area
- assist in recognising and making provision for the use and management practices of tangata whenua in the exercise of non-commercial fishing rights (in particular to support Te Taumanu o Te Waka a Māui Taiāpure)
- provide statutory support for the traditional rāhui (traditional closure) in the area, and
- provide time for longer-term fisheries management measures to be put in place.
The Kaikōura Marine Guardians note that this nursery/kōhanga area is serving as an earthquake recovery tool, by operating as a refuge for ecosystem and species recovery.
What was proposed
The proposed Waiopuka temporary closure covers all that area of South Island fisheries waters enclosed by a line:
- commencing at a point at the North Wharf (at 42˚24.79’S and 173˚42.19’E), then
- proceeding in a straight line in a north-easterly direction to a point at Nine Pin Rock (at 42˚24.54’S and 173˚42.32’E), then
- proceeding in a straight line in a south-easterly direction to a point at St Kilda Rocks (at 42˚24.80’S and 173˚42.80’E), then
- proceeding in a straight line in a south-westerly direction to a point (at 42˚25.01’S and 173˚42.57’E, then
- proceeding in a straight line in a westerly direction to a point on the coast (at 42˚25.02’S and 173˚42.50’E), then
- proceeding in a north-westerly direction along the mean high-water mark (MHWM) of the coast of the South Island to the point of commencement.
Related documents
The request from the guardians [PDF, 160 KB]
A map of the proposed area [PDF, 1.4 MB]
Making your submission
The closing date for written submissions is 26 August 2019.
Email your submission to FMSubmissions@mpi.govt.nz
While we prefer email, you can post your submission to:
Fisheries Management – Spatial Planning and Allocations
Fisheries New Zealand
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140.
Public notices
Public notices calling for written submissions are scheduled to appear in The Press on Wednesday, 24 July 2019 and the Kaikōura Star on Wednesday, 31 July 2019.
Submissions are public information
Note, that any submission you make becomes public information. People can ask for copies of submissions under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA says we have to make submissions available unless we have good reasons for withholding them. This is explained in sections 6 and 9 of the OIA.
Tell us if you think there are grounds to withhold specific information in your submission. Reasons might include that it is personal information or commercially sensitive. However, any decision MPI makes to withhold information can be reviewed by the Ombudsman, who may tell us to release it.
