The inner Tasman Bay is to be closed to commercial fishing using certain fishing methods from Monday 2 February 2009 until the start of the next fishing year on 1 October 2009.
Under Fisheries Regulations, the Chief Executive of the Ministry of Fisheries is required to close the inner Tasman Bay to all commercial fishing using pair trawling, or Danish seining and all snapper fishing using a surrounding net (that is not a drag net) if the commercial catch of snapper in Tasman and Golden Bays (an area known as “Statistical Area 038”) exceeds 100 tonnes by the end of February.
The latest calculation of commercial snapper catch in Statistical Area 038 shows that the catch has exceeded 100 tonnes and this fishery must now be closed to commercial fishing by these fishing methods.
Commercial fishing by methods such as single trawling and long-lining is not affected by the closure.
The fishery will reopen for all commercial fishers once the new fishing year starts on 1 October 2009.
This closure does not affect recreational or customary fishing for snapper in Tasman Bay and all normal fishing rules apply.
