Reef fish FAQs
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November 7, 2025
Current regulations prohibit commercial fishers from keeping and selling 19 reef species, including red moki and boarfish, from waters surrounding the east and west coasts of the upper North Island. These areas are referred to as Fisheries Management Areas 1 and 9. See the map below for reference.
November 6, 2025
In 1993 the regulation to prohibit certain reef fish from being kept and sold by commercial fishers was introduced to reduce the risk of depleting these vulnerable species. These specific reef fish species are considered more vulnerable to depletion as they are often slow-growing and long-lived. Since 1993 Fisheries NZ has done little to determine ... Read more.
November 6, 2025
In October 2025, Fisheries NZ proposed removing regulations to allow commercial fishers to keep and sell vulnerable reef fish species including; giant & long-finned boarfish, red pigfish, butterfly & splendid perch, scarlet & sandager’s wrasse, green & banded wrasse, red moki, red mullet, silver drummer, rock cod, kelpfish, black angelfish, marblefish, notch-headed marblefish, painted moi, ... Read more.
