Last week the Minister of Fisheries Hon Stuart Nash released his decisions regarding the management of 32 different fish stocks in Aotearoa for the 1 October 2018 fishing year. Te Ohu Kaimoana worked with Iwi to provide Fisheries New Zealand (FNZ) with recommendations to the Minister regarding all 32 stocks.

One of the more topical stocks reviewed was east coat tarakihi. The Minister has chosen to reduce the Total Allowable Commerical Catch (TACC) of tarakihi by 20% for 2019 in the interests of the sustainability of the fish. In doing so, he’s also given industry an opportunity to develop a management plan to address uncertainties and rebuild the stock in a way that supports both the species and those whose livelihoods depend upon it. This management plan will be consulted on developed to come into effect in 2020. Te Ohu Kaimoana supports the Minister’s decision for an adaptable approach to address tarakihi.

Last week we caught up with Irena Smith from Te Karere to discuss tarakihi and the implications the fishery poses to New Zealand’s economy and dinner plates across the motu.