OYSTER PROHIBITION REMOVED

The prohibition on the taking of oysters by recreational fishers in the outer Bay of Islands and in the outer Whangaruru Harbour has been removed with effect from Thursday, 2 October 2003, the Ministry of Fisheries announced today.

This means that recreational fishers will be able to take oysters from these areas in the same manner as most other places along the Northland coast, subject to any restrictions that may be applied from time to time from a public health perspective. The daily maximum number of oysters that a recreational fisher may take in Northland is 250.

Senior Fisheries Advisor for the Ministry of Fisheries, Dave Allen says that the original intent of the historic regulation was no longer serving its purpose.

"The regulation was introduced many decades ago as it was thought that creating the closed areas would protect the native rock oyster (Saccostrea glomerata).

"However, the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) has become quite abundant in these areas over more recent decades. The revocation of this old regulation will allow recreational fishers the opportunity to access the available oyster resource."

Ends

For further information please contact:

Dave Allen
Ministry of Fisheries
Auckland
Tel 09 820 7688

Maps follow

Areas (shaded) where recreational fishers were previously unable to take oysters: on the left the outer Whangaruru Harbour, and on the right the outer Bay of Islands.