Pukerua Bay fishing restrictions

2 September 2009

New fishing rules that come into effect on 01 October will include an extension of the current temporary ban on all fishing methods in Pukerua Bay except hand-held line fishing.

The regulation will be in place for at least the next five year period and Ministry of Fisheries Central Inshore Manager, Dan Lees, says it is all part of a sustained effort to rebuild the fishery in the area.

“There has long been fishing pressure on the area, particularly on Paua and Kina.

“This is largely due to Pukerua Bay’s ease of access and proximity to the Wellington metropolitan area.

“Given temporary bans have been in place since 2002 and we have the evidence to show the bans are helping the fishery recover, it now makes sense to replace these temporary measures with a long-standing regulation that further restricts fishing in the area.”

Representatives from the local community are supportive of the new rule and are working with tangata whenua and the Ministry of Fisheries to address a long-term management plan for the area.

“The more effort we put in now – the more likely it is that we will have a healthy and replenished fishery in the future” says Dan Lees.