For two years, starting on 11 September, New Zealand’s east Coromandel scallop fishery is closed, after concerns were raised about the sustainability of the stock.
New Zealand Director of Fisheries Management Emma Taylor said public consultation on the matter took place between April and May. The request to close the scallop fishery for two years was made by The Ngāti Hei Trust.
"We received more than 2,000 submissions, with the majority supporting a closure,” Taylor said. "The feedback from tangata whenua [people of the land] and the public reflects the results of recent scientific surveys, commissioned by Fisheries New Zealand. These highlight concerns around the sustainability of scallop stocks right across the northern scallop fisheries, including the east Coromandel area.”
Taylor said the department understands more than just fishing effort needs to be considered in closures and reopenings.
"While addressing fishing activity is part of the picture, we also know that scallops are affected by land-based impacts such as sedimentation, and by changes to water quality," she said.
The closure spans scallop fishing along the east Coromandel coastline from Anarake Point to Ruahiwihiwi Point, where Ngāti Hei exercise mana moana – or authority over the waters – and includes Opito Bay. Other fishing in the area can continue under existing rules.
The New Zealand Ministry for Prime Industries recently announced both central and local governments will address the impacts brought on the scallop population, but the closure will allow the stocks to recover.
"The new closure area is much larger and applies to both recreational and commercial scallop fishing. This will support scallop populations across a larger area of the coastline and is part of the overall scallop management picture that Fisheries New Zealand is currently considering” Taylor said.
The closure follows a customary rāhui – a “tapu,” or restriction, on a resource – placed by Ngāti Hei on the Opito Bay area in December, to take pressure off the scallop fishery.
"Customary management tools and temporary closures such as rāhui, provide an important mechanism to support the protection of our fisheries resources,” Taylor said.
Fisheries New Zealand received a total of 2,381 submissions on the potential closure, with the majority of submitters in support.
While it is closed, the ministry said fishery officers will continue to patrol the area.
Image courtesy of New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries
