Fisheries Act changes threaten already fragile marine environments

PĀNUI PĀPĀHO | MEDIA RELEASE

6 Hereturikōkā 2025 | 6 August 2025

Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust is concerned that the Government’s proposed amendments to the Fisheries Act announced this morning allow commercial fishers to put economic and commercial interests ahead of sustainability and conservation principles.

“This is the most comprehensive review of the Fisheries Act in decades, so we are disappointed to see commercial interests being put ahead of the restoration of our marine ecosystems which are already on the brink of collapse.” says Nicola Rata-MacDonald MNZM, Chief Executive of the Trust.

“We know that regeneration is key to a thriving fisheries sector — that’s why we’ve welcomed previous moves by the Government to close tipa (scallop) fisheries, remove kina barrens, and reduce take limits on other fish species to allow stocks to replenish.

“Our marine environments are fragile, and human impacts on our moana like overfishing show a real need for sustainable stewardship of our oceans through evidence-based regulations and protections.”

Proposed amendments to the Act include enabling carry-forward of Annual Catch Entitlement differentials, changes to landing and discard rules, and allowing non-regulatory measures to be given greater weight when setting catch limits.

“Commercial fishers failing to catch their annual entitlement isn’t caused by some adverse event or special individual circumstances, it’s caused by the depletion of already-vulnerable fish stocks.” Nicola says.

“So allowing for future intensified fishing only prolongs the issue, permitting even larger take from future fishing stocks which are already struggling to recover — all while changing rules around landing and discarding to make it easier to overfish.”

“Continuing to plunder exhausted fisheries with little relief or chance to recover will only lead to dead oceans. This must be front of mind for decision makers when setting future take limits.”

The Trust will be reviewing the Amendment Bill when it is introduced to Parliament and will be making a submission to the select committee on the proposed changes.