Following consultation, the Minister of Fisheries has made decisions on blue cod regulations for both recreational and commercial fishing.

The minister has decided to:

• require a minimum mesh size on blue cod pots of 54mm for both commercial and recreational fishers
• apply a recreational minimum legal size of 33cm for blue cod in all areas, except BCO 1 (upper North Island) where the minimum legal size will remain at 30cm
• require recreational fishers to land blue cod in a measurable state (unless to be immediately eaten on the fishing vessel from which it was taken)
• apply a two-day accumulation limit for recreational blue cod fishers based on the daily bag limit set for all areas (except for the Fiordland Marine Area where the accumulation limit is 1 day)
• set the daily recreational bag limits for blue cod in areas of the South Island and the Chatham Islands according to a traffic light system.

Note: The traffic light system assigns a colour rating to different areas in the South Island and the Chatham Islands. The rating can be changed as available information suggests stock health is improving or declining. The following blue cod bag limits apply to the areas:

• green areas (healthy) are 15
• orange (rebuilding/declining) are 10
• red (in trouble) are 2.
• Note some fiords have their own limits

These measures will apply from 1 July 2020.

An overview map is available here

Stay up to date with fishing rules on the MPI website

The Minister for the Environment is seeking nominations for members of the Fiordland Marine Guardians (the Guardians).

The Guardians are an advisory group established by the Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) Marine Management Act 2005. They provide advice to Ministers, government departments, and Environment Southland on managing the Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) Marine Area.

The membership of the Guardians must reflect a balanced mix of knowledge and experience in the Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) Marine Area. At least five members must reside in the Otago or Southland regions.

Four positions are currently available to be filled.

Members of the Fiordland Marine Guardians should have the following skills:

·         A basic understanding of Te Titiri o Waitangi, Te Titiri based partnerships, and tikanga Māori

·         Knowledge of the Guardians ‘Vision’ and ‘Philosophy’ and ability to demonstrate behaviours aligned to these principles

·         Demonstrated interest and enthusiasm for the role and the Fiordland Marine Area (FMA) and the necessary time to contribute effectively to the work of the Guardians

·         Relevant (recent and ongoing) experience and knowledge of coastal Fiordland

·         Experience, knowledge, and perspective to complement those of the existing Guardians

·         Knowledge, experience and/or expertise in one or more aspects of the legislation and policy instruments relevant to managing  the FMA

·         Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with others, including government agencies, industry, educational sectors, iwi-led organisations, and recreational and environmental groups

·         A wide network and confidence engaging effectively with others

·         Experience in governance and/or an understanding of what governance is and how this is applied through the Fiordland Marine Guardians/FMA model

·         Demonstrated behaviours that suggest they have high personal integrity.

·         Experience chairing meetings or in related leadership roles

Nominations (using this form), including a CV and cover letter outlining how you meet the position requirements, should be emailed to info@fmg.org.nz or posted to Fiordland Marine Guardians Nominations, Ministry for the Environment, PO Box 10362, Wellington 6143.

Nominations close 5.00pm 28 June 2020.

A press release from Environment Southland May 2019.

A further discovery of the invasive seaweed Undaria pinnatifida at a new site in Fiordland was made in April. Divers on a joint agency compliance trip discovered one mature Undaria plant and several juvenile plants on the line of the wreck of the boat ‘Stella’ which is lying on its side on the shore of Chalky Inlet.

Although this the first find in this area, Environment Southland, the Department of Conservation and Biosecurity New Zealand, with support from the Fiordland Marine Guardians, have been working together on an intensive removal programme for Undaria in Breaksea Sound since 2010.

Environment Southland biosecurity and biodiversity operations manager Ali Meade said the latest discovery was very disappointing.

“We’re absolutely gutted to find more Undaria in Fiordland, however it’s very important that we don’t give up now as there’s still a chance to control it. We continue to urge vessel operators to be vigilant. When you come into Fiordland your hull and gear must be clean.”

A team of divers will be assessing the situation in May, before further actions are considered.

“We will send divers in to find out how much Undaria there is. We’ll survey as much of Chalky Inlet as possible, to see if this is an isolated pocket or whether we have a bigger problem.”

Ali said the latest discovery reinforces just how important it is for all boaties to abide by the rules of the Fiordland Marine Regional Pathway Management Plan to stop pests getting into the pristine waters of Fiordland. The plan requires all vessels entering within one nautical mile of the landward boundary of the Fiordland Marine Area to hold a Clean Vessel Pass and to comply with clean vessel, clean gear and residual seawater standards.

Fiordland Marine Guardians chair Rebecca McLeod said visiting Fiordland is an absolute privilege and boaties need to be particularly vigilant when they travel into the fiords.

“Undaria is just one of a number of marine pests in New Zealand waters and we need to make every effort to reduce the risk of anything being carried into the area.”

The New Zealand Geographic Board Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa have opened for public consultation the proposed name changes for the Fiordland Marine Area.  The proposal is for dual te reo Māori and English names for the 16 sounds and inlets in Fiordland.

Public consultation will run for three months from 20 May to 20 August 2019.

The board says restoring traditional Ngāi Tahu names alongside well-known and established English names will recognise the significance of both names and provide a window to rich stories in both Māori and English.

While most of the sounds and inlets in Fiordland are, in strict geographic terms, fiords, the board agreed to retain ‘Sound’ and ‘Inlet’ in the proposed official names because of their long-established common use.

Nancy Sound to Hinenui / Nancy Sound

Bradshaw Sound to Kaikiekie / Bradshaw Sound

Edwardson Sound to Moana-whenua-pōuri / Edwardson Sound

Preservation Inlet to Rakituma / Preservation Inlet

Chalky Inlet to Taiari / Chalky Inlet

Charles Sound to Taiporoporo / Charles Sound

Caswell Sound to Taitetimu / Caswell Sound

Dusky Sound to Tamatea / Dusky Sound

Thompson Sound to Te Awa-o-Tū / Thompson Sound

Long Sound to Te Awaroa / Long Sound

Sutherland Sound to Te Hāpua / Sutherland Sound

George Sound to Te Houhou / George Sound

Cunaris Sound to Te Korowhakaunu / Cunaris Sound

Breaksea Sound to Te Puaitaha / Breaksea Sound

Dagg Sound to Te Rā / Dagg Sound

The NZ Gazette notice is also on the Internal Affairs and LINZ websites.

For the last few years the Ministry for Primary Industries has contracted Young Fishing Limited to undertake hull inspections of known Fiordland-bound vessels based in Bluff and Stewart Island for the presence of marine pests e.g. the invasive seaweed Undaria pinnatifida.

As of 1 May, until 31 October 2019, there will be no routine monthly vessel hull inspections for marine pests undertaken by Young Fishing Ltd in Bluff and Stewart Island. However, if you are travelling to Fiordland over this time on-request inspections are still available.

To arrange an on-request inspection during this period, please contact Young Fishing Ltd on 027 680 1258 or youngfishingco@xtra.co.nz.