Each year since 1983, October 1 has marked the start of the fishing year. Although for the more than 1100 registered commercial fishermen, it will be more hard work than celebrations as many start to plan for the year ahead including ensuring vessels are registered and permitted. October 1 is also the date that quota changes from the Minister of Fisheries come into effect.
President of the Federation of Commercial Fishermen, Doug Saunders-Loder says October 1 is a special day in a fisherman’s calendar.
Each year fishermen with an Annual Catch Entitlement (ACE) are allowed to catch a certain volume of fish and this number is reset from October 1. “This allows fishermen to start the year fishing in earnest. This may not seem like a lot on the face of it but it certainly gives fishermen an opportunity to go fishing with relatively few concerns. Clearly there are seasonal fisheries that don’t fit into this time of year but everyone recognises it as a turning of the page and gets a little buoyant going forward.”
Mr Saunders-Loder also said many fishermen will be looking to enjoy the warmer weather as the country heads into summer.
“It’s a real pleasure and a privilege being a fisherman full stop, but when you are out on the ocean on a great day you really do feel like you have the best job in the world.”
New Zealand fishermen commercially fish more than 130 different species around New Zealand’s 15, 134km coastline and within the 4.4km2 exclusive economic zone (EEZ) – the fourth largest EEZ in the world.
“Our commercial fish resource has a value of nearly $4 billion and as an industry we are New Zealand’s fifth largest exporter with a sound reputation internationally for sustainable, high quality seafood – that fact alone is reason enough for us to celebrate October 1,” said Mr Saunders-Loder.
New Zealanders are also invited to celebrate the start of the fishing year by getting down to their local fish retailer and trying some different New Zealand seafood. Nearly 90 per cent of New Zealanders eat fish at least once month but nutritionists recommended that we eat at least two servings of seafood per week.
Mr Saunders-Loder said there are a multitude of species that you can look forward to at this time of year including fresh blue cod, gurnard, flatfish, snapper, tarakihi, blue warehou, rig and school shark.
October 1 was chosen as the start of New Zealand’s fishing year as this was the date in 1978 that New Zealand established its EEZ and took control of the deepwater fisheries surrounding New Zealand. In 1986 New Zealand’s world-leading quota management system was introduced. October 1 is also the date that government carries out the administrative requirements of the quota management system like allocating quota.
On Tuesday the Minister of Fisheries announced quota changes including an increase to the commercial catch limits for hoki this fishing year by 20,000 tonnes.
