Changes to Regulation 27 customary fishing take effect

1 March 2006

Ministry of Fisheries staff will be talking with groups who issue customary fishing authorisations under the amateur fishing regulations about changes to these regulations.

The new regulations set stricter requirements for issuing customary fishing authorisations, with issuers now needing to retain copies of the authorisations they issue.

The Government called for a review after concerns about the on-going abuse of the old Regulation 27 (r 27) of the Fisheries (Amateur Fishing) Regulations 1986. Recommendations from the review included improving the knowledge and understanding of people issuing authorisations under r 27, as well as providing tough penalties for those people caught abusing the system.

As a result, all authorisations will now be issued under a new regulation, r 27A. The amendments have been made to stamp out serious fisheries offences committed under the old r 27 and especially target people who issue illegal customary authorisations. These amendments come into effect on 1 March 2006.

Ministry of Fisheries deputy chief executive Stan Crothers says the penalties should help deter serious offending around customary fishing authorisations issued under the amateur regulations. “This offending is undermining the good work of iwi and hapu who voluntarily spend a lot of time managing their customary catch to ensure local fisheries remain healthy.”

The new penalties will be specific to the new r 27A only and will not apply to customary fishing authorisations issued under either the South Island or Kaimoana customary fishing regulations.

More information on the review is available on the Ministry’s website,www.fish.govt.nz/customary. For more information on customary fisheries management see the attached background sheet.

Ends

Contact:
Barbara Crocker
Communications Manager
Ministry of Fisheries
Ph: 021 388 659