Input sought on Akaroa paua closure

Fisheries NZ, in conjunction with the Akaroa Tai?pure Management Committee, are seeking information and views from tangata whenua and stakeholders on a proposal to close an area of the Akaroa Tai?pure to recreational and commercial p?ua fishing.

The committee considers that the proposed closure is needed to address a decline in p?ua stocks in that area of the tai?pure. The closure is intended to allow the regeneration of p?ua stocks and thereby enable sustainable use in the future. It would also recognise rangatiratanga in the management of local fisheries, and the rights secured by M?ori in relation to fisheries by Article II of the Treaty of Waitangi.

It is proposed to close a small area within the Akaroa Tai?pure to both recreational and commercial p?ua fishing. This measure is recommended by the Management Committee, which includes representatives from tangata whenua, commercial and recreational fishers, marine farming, as well as charter and tourist operators.

The p?ua fishery on the reefs adjacent to Onuku Marae was once extremely abundant and a significant resource for Ng?i Tahu, especially those who occupy the Kaik at Onuku.

Surveys by Te Tiaki Mahinga Kai in 2018 indicate that mean densities of p?ua at depths accessible to customary fishers (0-0.5 m) on reefs inside the proposed closure were low (0.3 p?ua m² on average). The Management Committee notes that for species with a free-spawning reproductive strategy such as p?ua, low densities (of less than 1 p?ua m²) can limit fertilisation success. The surveys also found that the average size of p?ua at depths accessible to customary fishers inside the proposed closure was 99 mm3 , which is potentially a further indicator that p?ua in the area are being over-fished.

The proposal document is available on the Ministry for Primary Industries website at http://www.mpi.govt.nz/news-and-resources/publications/

Email submissions to [email protected] Ph. 0800 00 83 33 before April 16. 

MPI