Primary Industries Minister David Carter has welcomed a move by New Zealand fish quota owners to forego fishing an increased orange roughy stock in the interest of long-term sustainability.
“The fishing industry deserves a pat on the back for this responsible, precautionary management decision,” said Carter.
“The industry has applied this approach in relation to other deepwater stocks and it is pleasing to see this continue.”
As part of the Ministry for Primary Industries’ annual stock assessment and fishery management review process, an increase in the size of the orange roughy stock on the Chatham Rise, east of New Zealand was identified. The quota owners for this stock include New Zealand’s largest deepwater fishing companies.
