New rules for East Otago fishery

27 September 2010

The Ministry of Fisheries announced today that new fishing regulations are being introduced for the East Otago Harbour Taiapure - local fishery reserve - from 1 October 2010.

Allen Frazer, Ministry of Fisheries Team Leader Inshore Fisheries, said the new regulations will help ensure the long-term sustainability of fisheries resources in the Taiapure.

“The regulations include reduced amateur bag limits for certain species – the maximum take per fisher per day will now be five for paua and 10 for kina,” Mr Frazer said. “There will also be new combined amateur daily bag limits of 50 for all shellfish including rock lobster, and 10 for all finfish, including longfin and shortfin eels.

“In addition, commercial harvest of cockles from the Taiapure will be prohibited, except from the existing ‘sanitation areas’ within Waitati Inlet. Finally, there will be a temporary, two-year prohibition on taking paua commercially or recreationally from around the Huriawa Peninsula.”

Taiäpure are established under the Fisheries Act 1996. The objective of these reserves is to “… make … better provision for the recognition of rangatiratanga and of the right secured in relation to fisheries by Article II of the Treaty of Waitangi.”

The Kati Huirapa Runanga ki Puketeraki application for a taiāpure was gazetted as the East Otago Taiāpure - Local Fishery in 1999 and a management committee was appointed in 2001.

The Committee is made up of representatives from the East Otago Boating Club, Kati Huirapa Runanga ki Puketeraki, Karitane Commercial Fisherman’s Cooperative, River-Estuary Care: Waikouaiti-Karitane and the University of Otago.

The Committee’s vision is a sustainable, healthy, abundant and accessible fishery inside the Taiäpure that provides for the community’s customary, recreational and commercial needs.
Committee spokesperson Brendan Flack said the Committee’s aim is to serve the community and in order to achieve this, it needs to ensure that the fishery is rebuilt and restored to abundant levels. “This will protect and future-proof the ability of the local community to ‘catch a feed’ in the Taiäpure,” Mr Flack said.
The Committee recommended the changes now reflected in the new regulations.