MPI could start 'conversation' on east coast pāua ban soon

Tuesday, 11 August 2020

A lift on shellfish and seaweed restrictions on the South Island’s east coast could be just around the corner, if research shows there has been a “sustained recovery” of stock.

Following the 7.8-magnitude earthquake in 2016, shellfish and seaweed fisheries in the Kaikōura and Marfells Beach regions were closed off after costal uplift left stock out of the water.

Gathering was prohibited from Marfells Beach near Lake Grassmere, to Conway River, near Hundalee and extended 4 nautical miles out to sea. The ban did not apply to crayfish, scampi or octopus.

Ministry for Primary Industries fish compliance regional manager Howard Reid said last month restrictions were always intended to be temporary.

* Log barricade 'educating' Marlborough quad bikers ahead of proposed vehicle ban

Shellfish between Marfells beach and Cape Campbell washed up in 2018.

* Council meeting leaves petition organiser against quad bike ban with 'hope'

Initially the ban was for three months, but there were 'worrying signs' for shellfish and seaweed species, so a decision was made to extend restrictions.

Speaking at a Marlborough east coast protection group’s annual general meeting on July 31 Reid said a lot of work had been done to monitor “habitats” of stock such as seaweed and pāua.

“When science says we can allow the return of harvesting, that will be allowed in some measure,” Reid said.

Last year the legal limit of pāua per person decreased from 10 per person to 5 in Kaikōura, Canterbury, Marlborough and Nelson.

“That is approaching, that conversation will start soon and the sharing of science is due to be soon as well.

“Through groups like this [East Coast Protection] and through consulting with iwi and the public, MPI will look at re-opening access.”

Reid said on Tuesday there had been an ongoing process of research to understand the effects of the earthquake along the east coast.

The next update on the research was expected in late September, Reid said.

“MPI and Fisheries New Zealand have taken a position that any reopening of shellfish and seaweed fisheries on the section of the coast effected by the closure will be informed by that science.”

He said come September, there could be an indication of sustained recovery of shellfish and seaweed fisheries.

“That’s what would be important for MPI to start to initiate a process of public consultation,” he said.

“That public consultation would focus on what a reopening would look like.”

In December, the legal limit for recreational pāua fishing halved in Kaikōura, Canterbury, Marlborough and Nelson.

Fisheries Management's director Stuart Anderson said the new quota was designed to help the depleted numbers recover after the earthquake in 2016.

The legal limit of pāua per person decreased from 10 per person to 5, or 2.5 kilograms of minced meat during a multi-day fishing trip to 1.25kg.

The limits applied to both black and yellow foot pāua.

In 2016 and 2017, the total commercial catch limits had been decreased by 50 per cent in all four areas, but the commercial industry in Nelson and Marlborough had voluntarily reduced their legal fishing quota by a further 10 per cent.

Reid said there were “some indications' that resettled pāua had continued breeding and there had been some growth in stock.

“There’s some good signs in the science that’s been done so far.”