FAQs
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Customary Fisheries | Fisheries Management | maximum sustainable yield | QMS | Economics | Fishing | Rescue Fish | Environment | Fishing methods | Recreational Fishing | Fishcare | customary | Kahawai | Reform scam | Baitfish
July 18, 2025
Recreational fishers typically catch less than 5% of the total amount of fish caught annually from commercial fishers in New Zealand. This figure can slightly differ year by year. For example in 2023, recreational fishers took home less than 2% of the total fish caught by commercial fishers. Sources: 2022-23 National Panel Survey 2017-18 National ... Read more.
July 18, 2025
According the the 2022-23 National Panel Survey, the most popular take-home species that Kiwis catch within our coastal fisheries are snapper, kahawai, blue cod and red gurnard. 2022-23 National Panel Survey
June 26, 2025
Baitfish, also known as forage fish, are small, schooling fish that feed on phytoplankton (algae) and various small marine organisms. Common baitfish found in New Zealand include pilchards, mackerels, kōheru and anchovies.
June 26, 2025
While small, baitfish play a significant role in the marine environment and are the critical link in the food web. Baitfish are a vital food source for the entire coastal ecosystem including kahawai, kingfish, snapper, marine mammals, seabirds and other larger predatory fish.
June 26, 2025
Jack mackerel (JMA) makes up the highest proportion of all baitfish caught in New Zealand. In the 2023-24 fishing year more than 44,000 tonnes (40 million kilos) of jack mackerel were caught in New Zealand. Source – Fisheries New Zealand, Fisheries Assessment Plenary. May 2024. Page 653
June 26, 2025
Twice a year in April and October, Fisheries NZ changes the management for various fish stocks across the country. Before they make any changes Fisheries NZ issues a proposal paper and asks for submissions from interested parties, including the public, fishers, Māori interests and environmental interests. Everyone has to respond by a set deadline. These ... Read more.
June 26, 2025
Fisheries New Zealand undertakes scientific stock assessments throughout the year for various fish stocks. Depending on what this shows, Fisheries NZ prioritises what fish stocks need to be reviewed and proposes various actions the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries may want to take to ensure sustainability. For example, If the assessment shows that abundance is ... Read more.
June 26, 2025
No, it depends on your definition of “sustainable”. Under the Quota Management System the stocks that get the most attention are usually the ones that are important to commercial interests. That means most effort is directed to delivering proposals that increase commercial catch limits, or churning out science that supports the maintenance of existing catch ... Read more.
June 19, 2025
Alternatives to trawling include long lining and trapping as they are more selective and less damaging to the marine environment. While these alternative methods may be more time consuming they generally deliver better quality fish which ought to attract a higher value return.
June 19, 2025
Since 2012, LegaSea has advocated for the removal of bottom trawling and other destructive mobile, bottom-contact fishing methods such as Danish seining and dredging, from New Zealand’s inshore marine environment. LegaSea supports a transition to more selective harvest techniques.
