Tauranga fishermen are being reminded to adhere to the new catch limit changes to blue cod, bluenose and 'the portion of fish in your fish and chips”, which came into effect on May 1.

The changes were announced by the Government last September and designed to support management stocks of blue cod, bluenose and rig (a species of small shark).

Acting inshore fisheries manager Steve Halley says good fisheries management requires a continued process of review and adjustment using up-to-date research and information.

'Catch limits need to be reviewed to reflect changes in the abundance of a fishstock and to ensure fishing is kept at sustainable levels.

'Other management controls are also reviewed to make sure they are operating effectively. If the catch limit for a species is reduced, controls which help limit catch also need to be adjusted to make sure limits are not exceeded.”

Changes to recreational catch limits are:

*A new recreational daily bag limit for blue cod in the Central (Egmont) Fishery Management Area of 10 blue cod within the existing 20 mixed finfish bag limit.

*A new recreational daily bag limit for blue cod in the Southland and Sub-Antarctic Fishery Management Area of 20 blue cod, within the existing 30 mixed finfish bag limit.

*A new recreational daily bag limit for bluenose of five bluenose, within the existing mixed finfish bag limit applicable in each area.

It was also announced last September, rig will be listed on Schedule 6 of the Fisheries Act, allowing commercial fisheries to return rig to the sea when they are likely to survive.