The Crayfish 3 policy is a document developed by the Gisborne Tatapouri Sports Fishing Club and the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council in 2014. It is aimed at increasing the size and abundance of crayfish in the eastern region.

The policy applies on the North Island’s southeast coast, from the area south of East Cape to the Wairoa River, Poverty Bay. LegaSea is promoting this policy as a way of providing future generations the fishing opportunities and marine resources we so gratefully inherited.

Management of Crayfish 3 (CRA3) has been highly controversial and there are serious concerns about depletion. Gisborne locals are denied access to reasonable numbers and size of crayfish, averaging 580g per cray, the lowest nationally.

Policy goal – To increase the size and abundance of rock lobster in the Crayfish 3 area and ensure the needs of customary and amateur fishers are met.

Policy summary – 

No increase to the Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) in Crayfish 3 until –

• 1. The concession enabling commercial fishers to take undersized rock lobster is revoked.
  2. There is adequate allowance made for illegal and unseen mortality.
  3. The stock is sufficiently abundant to provide for public use in a reasonable manner and timeframe.
  4. The stock is capable of meeting the reasonably foreseeable needs of future generations; and
  5. Those needs have been adequately identified and allowed for.

Crayfish 3 policy here.