QMS FAQs

All FAQs | Customary Fisheries | Fisheries Management | maximum sustainable yield | QMS | Economics | Fishing | Rescue Fish | Environment | Fishing methods | Recreational Fishing | Fishcare | customary | Kahawai | Reform scam

What’s the annual catch allowance for kahawai, for each sector?

May 29, 2025 Commercial/Total Allowable Commercial Catch limit (TACC) – 2,728,000 kilograms. (2728 tonnes). Recreational allowance – 2,293,000 kilograms. (2293 tonnes). Māori customary allowance – 617,000 kilograms. (617 tonnes). *Note – Recreational and customary fishing are not part of the Quota Management System. As per the 1996 Fisheries Act, the Minister sets aside allowances to provide for our ... Read more.
Customary Fisheries | QMS | Recreational Fishing | Kahawai

How much kahawai is caught from New Zealand waters, per annum?

May 29, 2025 Below is the breakdown of kahawai catch in 2024; Commercial landings – 2,158,000 kilograms, for sale. Recreational landings – 370,600 kilograms, to feed our families. Māori customary – unknown, however, it is common for kahawai to be caught for customary purposes under the amateur fishing regulations, as part of a person’s recreational daily bag limit. ... Read more.
Customary Fisheries | QMS | Recreational Fishing | Kahawai

How much of the commercial kahawai catch is sold in New Zealand?

May 29, 2025 Around 55% of the commercial kahawai catch remains in New Zealand and sold locally. Sources – Seafood New Zealand, Export Statistics. January – December 2024. Page 41. Fisheries New Zealand, Fisheries Assessment Plenary. May 2024. Page 723
QMS | Kahawai

What’s the export price of kahawai, per kilo?

May 29, 2025 In 2024 whole, frozen kahawai were on average exported for less than $2 per kilo. Source – Seafood New Zealand, Export Statistics. January – December 2024. Page 41.
QMS | Kahawai

What country does most of our kahawai get exported to?

May 29, 2025 In 2024, more than 620,000 kilos of kahawai were exported to Guinea, West Africa. That’s more than 70% of the total frozen, whole kahawai exported. Source – Seafood New Zealand, Export Statistics. January – December 2024. Page 41.
QMS | Kahawai

What is the primary commercial fishing method of harvesting kahawai?

May 29, 2025 Purse seining is the main method used by commercial fishers to catch kahawai. Substantial quantities of kahawai are also harvested using set nets and as non-targeted catch in the surface longline and trawl fisheries Source – Fisheries New Zealand, Fisheries Assessment Plenary. May 2024. Pages 720 & 721
QMS | Fishing methods | Kahawai

How much kahawai does New Zealand export?

May 29, 2025 In 2024, New Zealand exported more than 975,000 kilograms of kahawai. The majority of kahawai is exported frozen, whole, no value added. Source – Seafood New Zealand, Export Statistics. January – December 2024. Page 41  
QMS | Kahawai

Why is information on high grading, bycatch and dumping often withheld by Fisheries New Zealand or its predecessors?

November 2, 2020 Embarrassment. In 2014 fisheries officials discussed the merits of releasing or not releasing damning evidence of illegal and wasteful practices by commercial fishers. They discussed the potential backlash if the evidence was withheld by the Ministry and later discovered and made public. The 2016 report by Michael Heron QC details this discussion in relation to ... Read more.
Fisheries Management | QMS

Why are only 56% of targeted species assessed?

November 2, 2020 Because there is a lack of available research funding. The system is set up so that quota holders have a major influence on where the research funding is spent. This means that research funding is targeted towards fish stocks that may deliver greater catch limits, not necessarily the fish stocks that are depleted (in trouble) ... Read more.
QMS

Who performs the research?

November 2, 2020 Approved service providers or commercial fishers or their agents, if they are funding a particular project.
QMS