The Ministry of Fisheries in New Zealand has announced that an in-season increase of 350 tonnes in the Total Allowable Catch for the flatfish fishery in the east and south of the South Island, known as FLA3. It is also said that the government is keen on making an in-season increase as there are larger than normal numbers of flatfish, especially lemon sole and New Zealand sole, available this year.
Fisheries Minister Hon Phil Heatley said that flatfish numbers naturally fluctuate and in some years there are large numbers of fish available to be caught. Inshore Fishery Manager Rose Grindley opinionated that this is thought to be due to environmental factors like water temperature, the availability of food and the influence of ocean currents and weather patterns.
Grindley also said that the in-season increase means fishers can make the most of the high numbers of fish around at the moment while we make sure the fishery is sustainable for the future. The in-season increase is estimated to be worth approximately $1.8 million to the commercial fishing industry. It is mentioned that the increase in catch limits comes into effect today with additional catching rights (known as Annual Catch Entitlement) being allocated to owners of fishing quota in the FLA3 fishery.
