{"id":311434,"date":"2026-03-03T20:05:18","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T20:05:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/311434\/"},"modified":"2026-03-03T20:05:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T20:05:18","slug":"fishing-in-nz-waters-overhaul","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/311434\/","title":{"rendered":"Fishing in NZ waters overhaul"},"content":{"rendered":"

New Zealand\u2019s fishing system is either a global success story or it’s failing the very environment it relies on, depending on who you ask. Now Minister Shane Jones wants to introduce law changes to “boost productivity”, a prospect filling environmentalists with dread. Gill Higgins reports.<\/p>\n

The controversial changes to fishing in NZ waters – Watch on TVNZ+<\/a><\/p>\n

Before the end of March, an amendment bill is due to be introduced to Parliament and sent to select committee giving New Zealanders a chance to have their say on how the country\u2019s oceans are managed.<\/p>\n

\"Public<\/p>\n

Public submissions will be open this year on the future of New Zealand’s fish. (Source: TVNZ)<\/p>\n

It comes as fisheries policy increasingly shapes up as an election issue, cutting across the economy, the environment, M\u0101ori interests, and food affordability.<\/p>\n

New Zealand’s seafood industry contributes around $2 billion in export earnings and employs more than 16,500 people. In a commercial context, the story is often framed as a triumph.<\/p>\n

But to others the system is in crisis, a suggestion Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones rejects.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t accept this catastrophisation,\u201d he said. \u201cThe stocks are in great health.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Oceans<\/p>\n

Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones (Source: TVNZ)<\/p>\n

Jones has made no secret of his priorities, describing himself to me as a \u201cpro growth, pro development, pro jobs, nationalist politician\u201d.<\/p>\n

At a 2025 Seafood New Zealand conference, he told industry leaders there was \u201cconsiderable scope for making the system more efficient, boosting productivity,\u201d calling the reforms \u201ca once in a lifetime shot\u201d.<\/p>\n

But critics question whether the goals of economic growth and ocean health can both be satisfied. Those concerns are voiced most sharply by people who spend their lives on \u2014 and under \u2014 the water.<\/p>\n

TV personality, passionate recreational fisher and former commercial fisher Matt Watson says the system has lost its way.<\/p>\n

\"Former<\/p>\n

Former commercial fisher Matt Watson with TVNZ reporter Gill Higgins (Source: TVNZ)<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fact of the matter is it\u2019s not being looked after,\u201d he says. \u201cWhen you\u2019re destroying the very food of the ocean it\u2019s a cock up.\u201d<\/p>\n

He\u2019s been outspoken in his opposition to the reforms.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been around for a while, and I\u2019m just not afraid anymore,\u201d he says. \u201cI can share what I think is right and wrong with how we manage our fishery.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Government\u2019s position is that the system works, so that when stocks come under pressure, catch limits are reduced.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll species of fish go through ebbs and flows,\u201d says Jones. \u201cThe system is designed to restrict, prohibit and stop extraction if sustainability is threatened.\u201d<\/p>\n

But Watson says the system is focused on maximising profits rather than ensuring the long-term health of the stocks.<\/p>\n

\"Former<\/p>\n

Former commercial fisher Matt Watson is concerned about the state of our oceans. (Source: TVNZ)<\/p>\n

What does the data tell us about our fish?<\/p>\n

Official data from the Ministry of Primary Industry shows about 75% of stocks meet biomass targets, but a quarter don\u2019t and need rebuilding. And 13% are considered at risk of depletion, with some fisheries closed altogether.<\/p>\n

A note on biomass targets. The idea is that fishing is sustainable if a stock sits at 40% of its original biomass level, as if no fishing had ever taken place. So 75% of stocks sit at or above that level. The argument is that this maximises the amount of fish that can be taken while allowing enough fish for breeding to continue. <\/p>\n

Critics argue 40% is too low. It should be set higher, especially for long-living species that take years to reproduce. They support this argument with the fact that a workable system shouldn\u2019t lead to bans on harvesting species. <\/p>\n

International examples loom large in the debate. Western Australia, which operates a similar quota system, recently imposed permanent bans on several prized species after stocks were found to be depleted by up to 85 percent.<\/p>\n

\"Off<\/p>\n

Off the menu: permanent fishing bans have been placed on overly depleted fish species in Australia. (Source: Supplied)<\/p>\n

Where have all the crayfish gone?<\/p>\n

Back here, environmental groups have mounted legal challenges against government stock management decisions over the years and won. Arguments have focused on catch limits being set too high, and the lack of regard for the ecosystem as a whole when setting the limits. Successful cases include ones for tarakihi and, most recently, red spiny rock lobster, better known as crayfish which, as of April 1, cannot be harvested at all along the East Coast of Northland.<\/p>\n

This has recently caused a lot of tension among the fishing community in Northland.<\/p>\n

For underwater cameraman Steve Hathaway the ban was necessary. He’s been diving in the area for almost 40 years and has watched the environment change over decades.<\/p>\n

\u201cI used to be able to get my limit of crays whenever I wanted to here\u2026 these days, you\u2019ll struggle to even get one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"nderwater<\/p>\n

nderwater cameraman Steve Hathaway (Source: TVNZ)<\/p>\n

One depleted species has a knock-on effect. With crayfish and snapper numbers dropping, kina populations have exploded, stripping reefs of kelp.<\/p>\n

Hathaway describes what scientists call a kina barren. \u201cAnimals need somewhere to live. They need places to eat. But when you lose it, you lose everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the crayfish case, the 2024 High Court challenge came from a small charity, the Environmental Law Initiative, along with two local hap\u016b. <\/p>\n

The ruling from the judge against then Minister Stuart Nash was that his catch setting was unlawful. After a period of consultation the total ban on harvesting crayfish for at least five years was put in place.<\/p>\n

But one of the new reforms being proposed by Shane Jones is to limit those kinds of legal challenges.<\/p>\n

\u2018An ideological weapon to wipe out commerce\u2019<\/p>\n

Shane Jones has argued the system \u201ccannot tolerate vexatious, protracted litigation that glugs the system up\u201d. He\u2019s proposing strict time limits on challenges and narrowing the grounds on which decisions can be contested. He wants any cases brought against catch decisions to be limited to the effects on specific species, rather than allowing for arguments relating to wider ecosystem concerns.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to make sure that an ecosystem-based approach doesn’t become an ideological weapon to wipe out commerce,\u201d says Jones. \u201cFish managers can’t be held responsible for the entire health of an oceanic environment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Shane<\/p>\n

Shane Jones talks to Gill Higgins. (Source: TVNZ)<\/p>\n

Matt Watson sees this as stopping the voice of the people. \u201cThat\u2019s not democracy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another proposed reform is to change onboard camera rules, including stopping public access to footage taken on commercial fishing boats. The Minister also wants to give commercial fishing companies greater flexibility around discarding fish at sea.<\/p>\n

‘Hope’ for commercial fishers<\/p>\n

1News spoke to at least six commercial fishers about their views on the proposed changes. Few of these fishers now hold quota themselves, they mostly fish for larger companies. <\/p>\n

Two agreed to talk on camera \u2013 but after weeks of attempts to make this happen, both pulled out. Another commercial fisher who has recently left the industry warned me that few commercial fishers would feel they could be honest about their views. <\/p>\n

Eventually, I found Curly Brown, an inshore trawler who used to run a family business but now fishes for Moana Seafood. He was happy to give his opinon. He said he was 100% behind Shane Jones\u2019 reforms and that they gave hope to fishers like himself. <\/p>\n

He argued his privacy as a fisherman shouldn\u2019t be breached and that camera footage taken on his boat had no place in the public\u2019s hands. He also felt the new discard rules would rarely be used but could be a practical tool. <\/p>\n

But those against the reforms argue making it easier to discard fish is a slippery slope. It\u2019s been made illegal in the EU and Norway and critics would like to see the same here. <\/p>\n

Furthermore, restricting access to footage and the fact it could be harder to challenge catch decisions in court only heightens concern if rules around discards are about to be loosened.<\/p>\n

Ng\u0101ti Manuhiri Settlement Trust chair Nicola MacDonald says the biggest worry that I have around the reforms is \u201cthe challenge it\u2019s going to create to bring companies to accountability\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"Ngāti<\/p>\n

Ng\u0101ti Manuhiri Settlement Trust chair Nicola MacDonald (Source: TVNZ)<\/p>\n

With the upcoming bill and select committee process, the Government says it\u2019s listening. <\/p>\n

The next chance to influence the future of New Zealand\u2019s fisheries will come first through submissions and then at the ballot box in November.<\/p>\n

For Matt Watson, the necessary direction is clear. \u201cWe need a healthy, productive commercial fishery\u2026 but we need one that lasts, that lasts for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/a>The controversial changes to fishing in NZ waters – Watch on TVNZ+<\/a><\/p>\n

The morning’s headlines in 90 seconds, including Trump\u2019s rationale for attacking Iran, and the return of a Kiwi film classic. (Source: Breakfast)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"New Zealand\u2019s fishing system is either a global success story or it’s failing the very environment it relies…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":311435,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[138,1389,20105,219,273,111,43,139,69,135],"class_list":{"0":"post-311434","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-new-zealand","8":"tag-business","9":"tag-conservation","10":"tag-consumer-affairs","11":"tag-economy","12":"tag-environment","13":"tag-new-zealand","14":"tag-news","15":"tag-newzealand","16":"tag-nz","17":"tag-politics"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/311434","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=311434"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/311434\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/311435"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=311434"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=311434"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=311434"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}