Closed and restricted areas

The use of set nets is prohibited in the Southland Fishery Management Area from Slope Point to Sandhill Point, east of Fiordland – offshore to four nautical miles. Set netting is also prohibited in the whole of Te Waewae Bay between Old Man Rock, west of Garden Bay and Sandhill Point. (Refer map).

[Note: The prohibition also extends beyond Slope Point into the South East Fishery Management Area. Recreational set netting is also prohibited within the Fiordland Marine Area, west of Sandhill Point.]

Unless specified, the set netting prohibitions do not apply to harbours, estuaries, rivers, inlets and lagoons. (Contact the Ministry of Fisheries for further details).

Te Whaka a Te Wera / Paterson Inlet Mataitai Reserve:

Additional bylaws apply within the Te Whaka a Te Wera / Paterson Inlet Mataitai Reserve including area closures, prohibitions and reduced bag limits.

(Contact the Ministry of Fisheries for details and a copy of the Te Whaka a Te Wera / Paterson Inlet Mataitai Reserve brochure).

Fiordland Marine Area:

Specific rules apply for the Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) Marine Area including area closures and reduced bag limits. (Contact the Ministry of Fisheries for details and a copy of the Fiordland Marine Area brochure).

The Department of Conservation should be contacted for details regarding:

• Marine Reserves (where fishing is prohibited) and Marine Mammal Sanctuaries that exist within the Stewart Island and Fiordland areas.