Western Coromandel Peninsula closed to pipi and cockle fishing

20 December 2002

The western Coromandel peninsula, between Wilson and Ngarimu Bays, will be closed to the harvesting of pipi and cockle for a further two year period from 20 December 2002 to 19 December 2004 (both dates inclusive).

The action has been taken by the Minister of Fisheries, under section 186A of the Fisheries Act 1996, to allow the fishery to recover.

The exact point at which the closed area starts is by a line commencing at a point adjacent to the northern-most part of Wilson's Bay (at 36053.24'S and 175025.43'E).

The line then goes in a southerly direction along the mean high-water mark to the Pupurakau Stream mouth (at 37004.49'S and 175030.96'E), adjacent and to the south of the area known as Ngarimu Bay. It then goes due west, in a straight line offshore, to a distance of 1 nautical mile.

Then the line goes in a northerly direction by a line, every point of which is 1 nautical mile from the mean high-water mark of the western Coromandel Peninsula, between the Pupurakau Stream mouth and the point of commencement.

This action has been taken in conjunction with the Hauraki Maori Trust Board, as part of a longer term strategy to sustainably manage these important kaimoana fisheries resources.