Rock lobster catch limits announced

Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Phil Heatley has decided catch limits for rock lobster (crayfish) fisheries to apply from 1 April this year.

Mr Heatley says the catch limits in the Wellington/Hawkes Bay spiny rock lobster fishery will increase, while those in Otago and Southern fisheries will decrease. No changes are proposed in the Canterbury/Marlborough spiny rock lobster fishery.

In reaching his decisions the Minister carefully considered the best scientific and management information available as well as submissions from the public, customary, recreational and commercial fishers.

“The Government, wants to facilitate a responsive management regime that helps ensure sustainability and provides for appropriate levels of use of the highly valuable rock lobster fishery,” says Mr Heatley.

In Wellington / Hawkes Bay (CRA 4) the catch limit will increase by eight per cent from 610.625 to 661.9 tonnes for commercial fishers only.

“Commercial fishers have taken a responsible approach to managing the fishery over several years by significantly reducing their catch to halt declining lobster numbers and help ensure the ongoing economic viability of the fishery,” says Mr Heatley. 

“Recreational fishing groups have also done their bit to help declining lobster numbers in the past by voluntarily reducing their daily bag limit. This restraint has resulted in increased abundance in the fishery which is to everyone’s benefit,” he said.

In Otago (CRA 7) the total catch limit for the CRA 7 rock lobster fishery will decrease by eight per cent from 104.5 to 95.7 tonnes.

“I have decided to take a conservative approach because of large fluctuations in lobster numbers. The catch limit reduction is likely to quickly assist the stock to a stable situation that provides greater and consistent benefits for all fishery participants,” says Mr Heatley.

The reduction in catch will come off the commercial catch limit only and non-commercial allowances will be unaffected.

In Southern (CRA 8) the total catch limit for the CRA 8 rock lobster fishery will decrease by 5% from 1110 to 1053 tonnes.

“The decrease in the total catch limit is due to the conservative nature of the management regime used in this fishery and is not to sustainability concerns. The CRA 8 fishery is above the desired statutory target stock level,” says Mr Heatley.

“The reduction in catch will come off the commercial catch limit only and non-commercial allowances will be unaffected.”

“The CRA 8 commercial industry group supports the cut and is committed to ensuring high lobster numbers continue in this fishery. I thank them for their responsible approach to its management,” he said. 

The Minister has also agreed the deemed value rates (penalties for fishing over the set commercial catch limit) will increase for all spiny and packhorse rock lobster stocks. The annual deemed value rate will increase from $100 to $110 per kilogram, the interim deemed value rate will increase from $75 to $99 per kilogram, and the differential deemed value rates will be adjusted accordingly.