Request to Temporarily Close Huriawa Peninsula (East Otago) to the Take of Paua

Pursuant to section 186B of the Fisheries Act 1996 (the Act), the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has received a request from the East Otago Taiapure Management Committee (the Committee), on behalf of Kati Huirapa ki Puketeraki, to temporarily close the area around Huriawa Peninsula to the taking of paua for a period of two years.

The area is currently closed to the take of paua under section 297 of Act for a period of two years, which expires on 30 September 2012. The Committee considers that although the paua stock in the area is rebuilding due to this closure, it remains severely depleted, and a further two-year closure will assist the ongoing rebuild. The Committee also considers a further two-year closure will recognise and provide for the customary use and management practices of tangata whenua.

Section 186B of the Act provides for the Director-General of MPI to temporarily close an area of South Island fisheries waters or restrict or prohibit the use of any fishing method if satisfied that it is likely to assist in replenishing the stock of the species of fish, aquatic life, or seaweed in the area concerned, or if it is likely to assist in recognising and making provision for the use and management practices of tangata whenua in the exercise of non-commercial fishing rights.

The closure area includes all those fisheries waters enclosed by a line commencing at a point on the mean high water mark (MHWM) (at 45°38.44′S and 170°39.81′E); then proceeding in a northerly direction to a point 50 m offshore (at 45°38.41′S and 170°39.80′E); then proceeding around the Huriawa Peninsula in a generally easterly and then westerly direction along a line every point of which is 50 m from the MHWM to a point offshore (at 45°38.57′S and 170°39.78′E); then proceeding in a northerly direction to a point on the MHWM (at 45°38.54′S and 170°39.77′E); then proceeding along the MHWM of the Huriawa Peninsula in a generally easterly and then westerly direction to the point of commencement.

A detailed map of the proposed area is available for download below, or by contacting MPI at the address below.

 Download Map of Huriawa Peninsula (PDF 392KB) 

Written submissions in response to this request are invited from persons who have an interest in the fisheries resources or the effects of fishing in the area.

A public notice calling for written submissions is in the Otago Daily Times on Saturday, 14 July 2012.

The closing date for submissions is Friday, 10 August 2012.

Submissions should be sent to:

Randall Bess
Ministry for Primary Industries
PO Box 2526, Wellington
randall.bess@mpi.govt.nz