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Understanding the proposed amendments to the Fisheries Act

Submissions to the proposed Fisheries Act reforms have now closed. 

Note, submissions are public information. Read more about what this means on the MPI website.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Our industry could be about to see the most significant reforms of New Zealand’s fisheries for decades. Recently, Minister Shane Jones launched the consultation on proposed amendments to the Fisheries Act. 

The proposals are in three major areas: 

  • Decision making processes, including making multi-year catch decisions and better integrating socio-economic factors in TAC setting 
  • The use of onboard cameras and potential exemption of camera footage from Official Information Act requests 

  • Landings and discards, including the option to return certain QMS species to sea if monitored by an onboard camera or observer and counted against that fisher’s ACE 

If you are a fisher or quota holder, or involved in the fishing industry in any way, these changes have the potential to be very significant and beneficial to you and our industry. They could give us more certainty and make the fisheries system more efficient and responsive.

But it is not certain the changes will all be passed by Parliament. We all need to speak up. 

How to get involved

To help these proposals get implemented, we strongly encourage all our seafood whānau to take time to learn about the amendments and then take part in the submissions process. Submissions close 5pm on Friday 11 April 2025 (note, the original submission date was Friday 28 March 2024 but the consultation has since been extended by two weeks). 

We suggest you:

1. Read what is being proposed on the Ministry for Primary Industries' consultation page. 

2. Read over our helpful summary pages:

3. Register for the fourth and final public online meetings held by FNZ 
(note: registration is compulsory if you want to attend). 

  • Session 4 - Wednesday 2 April 2025, 3pm to 4pm

4. Attend an industry specific meeting

As the consultation period has been extended Seafood New Zealand is hosting an ectra Industry-only drop-in session to answer any questions about the proposed amendments and to support you with your submissions. 

  • Session 3 - Tuesday 1 April 2025, 2pm-4pm

Email [email protected] and we will send you the link to join.  

5. Make a submission

There are a number of ways to make your submission: 

1. Use our quick and easy online form (see box at top of page for details)

2. Use the Ministry for Primary Industries online form

3. Download the Seafood New Zealand Word template: the template describes the positions Seafood New Zealand is taking on each of the proposed amendments. It is longer than Seafood New Zealand's online form and is useful for anyone wanting to write a very detailed submission of their own. Click below to download the submission, then add your information and personal statements. Once finished, email it to [email protected].

Please note: submissions are public information. Read more about what this means on the MPI website.

HoW we can help

After reading through the above, if you have questions or comments or would like further support with the submission process please email [email protected].