The Coromandel scallop fishery has been fully closed to commercial and recreational fishing to allow it to recover, with a customary allowance set at 10 tonnes. 

Most of the Coromandel scallop fishery and all of the Northland scallop fishery were closed in 2021 due to sustainability concerns, says Fisheries New Zealand’s Director of Fisheries Management, Emma Taylor. 

"In December 2022, new information led to a temporary emergency closure of the two remaining open areas, one around Little Barrier Island and the other in Colville channel. This new 2023 sustainability closure will see those areas remain closed. 

"The use of emergency measures to close a fishery is rare, and they are not used lightly." 

Minister for Oceans and Fisheries, Stuart Nash, made the decision based on new survey information which showed the two open areas in the fishery could no longer sustain harvesting. 

"The initial closures followed extensive surveys in 2021, which revealed sustainability concerns. Results from surveys in the areas around Little Barrier Island and the Colville Channel in 2022 revealed further serious declines in scallop numbers. 

"In light of this evidence, feedback received during public consultation supported a full and ongoing closure of the fishery as well as reductions to the total allowable catch to give the fishery the best chance of recovery." 

The Minister has decided to set the commercial and recreational allowances at zero, reflecting that no fishing will take place while the closure is in effect. The closure will not affect the relatively small amount of customary allowance. The Ministry has noted iwi in the region strongly support the recovery of the fishery and issuing of customary fishing permits has been limited if not completely ceased. 

"I’d like to thank iwi for their continued input and support in managing the recovery of this important shared fishery," says Emma Taylor. 

The Minister's decisions for the Northland rock lobster fishery (CRA 1) will be released separately in the coming weeks.  

For other proposals that were consulted on as part of this round, the Minister will make decisions later in the year (expected June 2023). This includes decisions on proposed changes to catch limits, allowances, and recreational daily bag limits for pāua across the lower and central North Island (PAU 2); and proposed measures to restrict dredging for kina in Tory Channel, Marlborough Sounds.