Fisheries (Southland and Sub-Antarctic Areas Commercial Fishing) Amendment Regulations 2025
2025/40
Fisheries (Southland and Sub-Antarctic Areas Commercial Fishing) Amendment Regulations 2025
Cindy Kiro, Governor-General
Order in Council
At Wellington this 10th day of March 2025
Present:
Her Excellency the Governor-General in Council
These regulations are made under section 297 of the Fisheries Act 1996 on the advice and with the consent of the Executive Council.
Contents
Regulations
1 Title
These regulations are the Fisheries (Southland and Sub-Antarctic Areas Commercial Fishing) Amendment Regulations 2025.
2 Commencement
These regulations come into force on 10 April 2025.
3 Principal regulations
These regulations amend the Fisheries (Southland and Sub-Antarctic Areas Commercial Fishing) Regulations 1986.
4 New regulation 3AC inserted (Use of spears prohibited in defined areas)
After regulation 3AB, insert:
3AC Use of spears prohibited in defined areas
Commercial fishers must not use spears to take fish, and must not possess fish that have been speared, within the following waters:
(a)
north-east coast of Stewart Island—Mamaku Point to Ackers Point (Horseshoe and Halfmoon Bays)—the waters within the area enclosed by a line that—
(i)
commences at Mamaku Point (at 46°51.682’S and 168°08.706’E):
(ii)
then proceeds in a straight line in a south-easterly direction to Bullers Point (at 46°55.214’S and 168°11.637’E):
(iii)
then proceeds in a straight line in a north-westerly direction to Ackers Point (at 46°53.760’S and 168°09.868’E):
(iv)
then proceeds in a generally north-westerly direction along the mean high-water mark to the commencement point at Mamaku Point (at 46°51.682’S and 168°08.706’E):
(b)
Riverton (Talls Point) to Monkey Island (eastern end of Te Waewae Bay)—the waters within the area enclosed by a line that—
(i)
commences at the mouth of the Aparima River (at 46°21.600’S and 168°01.356’E):
(ii)
then proceeds in a straight line in an easterly direction to a point at 46°21.638’S and 168°02.227’E:
(iii)
then proceeds in a generally westerly direction along a line 0.5 nautical miles from the mean high-water mark to a point at 46°17.847’S and 167°42.145’E:
(iv)
then proceeds by a straight line in an easterly direction to Monkey Island at 46°17.921’S and 167°43.740’E:
(v)
then proceeds along the mean high-water mark to the commencement point at the mouth of the Aparima River (at 46°21.600’S and 168°01.356’E):
(c)
entrance to Bluff Harbour—the waters enclosed by a line that—
(i)
commences at a point on Island Harbour (at 46°35.311’S and 168°19.887’E):
(ii)
then proceeds in a straight line in an easterly direction to the southern end of the Tiwai Wharf working berth:
(iii)
then proceeds in a straight line in an easterly direction to a point at the eastern end of Tiwai Wharf (at 46°35.527’S and 168°21.987’E):
(iv)
then proceeds in a generally southerly direction along the mean high-water mark to a point on the beach east of Tiwai Wharf (at 46°35.845’S and 168°22.358’E):
(v)
then proceeds in a straight line in a south-easterly direction to a point at 46°36.042’S and 168°23.129’E:
(vi)
then proceeds in a generally south-westerly direction along a line 0.5 nautical miles from the mean high-water mark to a point at 46°37.147’S and 168°21.996’E:
(vii)
then proceeds in a straight line in a north-westerly direction to Stirling Point (at 46°36.750’S and 168°21.582’E):
(viii)
then proceeds in a generally north-westerly direction along the mean high-water mark to the southern end of the Island Harbour access bridge:
(ix)
then proceeds in a straight line in a northerly direction to the northern end of the Island Harbour access bridge:
(x)
then proceeds in a generally northerly direction along the mean high-water mark to the commencement point on Island Harbour (at 46°35.311’S and 168°19.887’E):
(d)
Ocean Beach to New River Estuary—the waters within the area enclosed by a line that—
(i)
commences at a point on Ocean Beach (at 46°35.644’S and 168°18.468’E):
(ii)
then proceeds in a straight line in a southerly direction to a point at 46°36.228’S and 168°18.133’E:
(iii)
then proceeds in a generally northerly direction along a line 0.5 nautical miles from the mean high-water mark to a point at 46°29.919’S and 168°17.510’E:
(iv)
then proceeds in a straight line in a southerly direction to Mokomoko Inlet (at 46°30.517’S and 168°17.621’E):
(v)
then proceeds along the mean high-water mark to the commencement point on Ocean Beach (at 46°35.644’S and 168°18.468’E).
5 Regulation 4A amended (Use of 60 mm mesh trawl net permitted south of 48°S at certain times)
In regulation 4A(1), delete “the Fisheries Act 1983 or”
.
6 Regulation 10 amended (Oyster dredges)
In regulation 10(1), delete “the Fisheries Act 1983 or”
.
7 Regulation 15A amended (Use of 60 mm mesh trawl net permitted)
In regulation 15A(1), delete “the Fisheries Act 1983 or”
.
8 Regulation 16 amended (Offences)
In regulation 16(1), replace “regulations 5C,”
with “regulations 3AC, 5C,”
.
Rachel Hayward,
Clerk of the Executive Council.
Explanatory note
This note is not part of the regulations but is intended to indicate their general effect.
These regulations, which come into force on 10 April 2025, amend the Fisheries (Southland and Sub-Antarctic Commercial Fishing) Regulations 1986 (the principal regulations).
Regulation 4 inserts new regulation 3AC into the principal regulations. New regulation 3AC prohibits the use of spears by commercial fishers within defined areas.
Regulation 16 of the principal regulations sets out offences for contravening or failing to comply with specified regulations. Regulation 8 amends regulation 16(1) to include an offence for contravening or failing to comply with new regulation 3AC.
Regulations 5 to 7 remove references to the Fisheries Act 1983 (which is now repealed).
Date of notification in Gazette: 13 March 2025.
These regulations are administered by the Ministry for Primary Industries.