Bottom trawling FAQs

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Will thousands of Kiwis lose their jobs if we transition away from bottom trawling?

October 14, 2026 Not if the transition is done well. A well-designed transition plan would support commercial fishers to change their fishing practices to more selective methods. Some jobs may disappear however, the goal is to revitalise small-scale fishing operations in the regions so more jobs will be available to families and coastal communities. A thriving inshore fleet ... Read more.

QMS | Fishing methods | Bottom trawling

Will transitioning away from bottom trawling in our coastal fisheries make fish more expensive?

October 14, 2026 Unlikely. The capture method only has a small influence on the retail price of fish. The majority of the retail sale price is influenced and captured by the quota owner, who then leases out the catch entitlement to fishers on the water. Those fishers make relatively low returns yet have higher costs in fuel, crew, ... Read more.

Fishing methods | Bottom trawling | QMS