The Coromandel scallop fishery has been fully closed to commercial and recreational fishing to allow it to recover.

Most of the Coromandel scallop fishery - which stretches from Leigh, Rodney in the north to Maketu in the Bay of Plenty - and all of the Northland scallop fishery were closed in 2021 due to sustainability concerns, says Fisheries New Zealand's director of fisheries management, Emma Taylor.

'In December 2022, new information led to a temporary emergency closure of the two remaining open areas, one around Little Barrier Island and the other in Colville channel. This new 2023 sustainability closure will see those areas remain closed.

'The use of emergency measures to close a fishery is rare, and they are not used lightly.”

Minister for Oceans and Fisheries, Stuart Nash, made the decision based on new survey information which showed the two open areas in the fishery could no longer sustain harvesting.

'The initial closures followed extensive surveys in 2021, which revealed sustainability concerns. Results from surveys in the areas around Little Barrier Island and the Colville Channel in 2022 revealed further serious declines in scallop numbers.

'In light of this evidence, feedback received during public consultation supported a full and ongoing closure of the fishery as well as reductions to the total allowable catch to give the fishery the best chance of recovery.”

The Minister has decided to set the commercial and recreational allowances at zero, reflecting that no fishing will take place while the closure is in effect. The closure will not affect the relatively small amount of customary allowance. We note iwi in the region strongly support the recovery of the fishery and issuing of customary fishing permits has been limited if not completely ceased.

'I'd like to thank iwi for their continued input and support in managing the recovery of this important shared fishery,” says Emma.

Environmental, iwi and recreational fishing interests in the Hauraki Gulf are celebrating the Minister's decision to close the Coromandel scallop fishery indefinitely.

Ngāti Hei led the closure with a rāhui prohibiting the harvest of scallops on the eastern side of the Coromandel Peninsula in 2020. Since 2021 a 2-year temporary closure has been in force.

'Ngāti Hei are overjoyed the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries has aligned with iwi and community wishes by closing the fishery to help it rebuild. Watching the scallops disappear over the years has been worrying, today we celebrate this decision,” says Ngāti Hei Rangatira, Joe Davis.

'It's very pleasing the Minister has acted on the latest evidence that shows scallop populations in the Hauraki Gulf are at all time lows. However, it's sad that the scallop beds have almost disappeared before action is taken. Let's hope Fisheries New Zealand is more responsive to community concerns in the future,” says Tairua based New Zealand Sport Fishing Council vice president Warren Maher.

Since 2020, LegaSea has worked with Hauraki Gulf iwi Ngāti Manuhiri and Ngāti Pāoa in supporting rāhui for scallops in their rohe. LegaSea has also been an integral part of the Hauraki Gulf Alliance seeking to have dredging, bottom trawling and Danish seining banned from Gulf waters.

'LegaSea is stoked that a rebuild plan is now in place. It's great because it means the scallop beds will finally get a rest from dredging. This is good for the environment and the Hauraki Gulf communities who have worked so hard to protect the fishery for future generations,” says LegaSea Project Lead, Sam Woolford.

The Opito Bay Ratepayers Association was the first of many Coromandel groups to support a restoration plan and the rāhui laid down by Ngāti Hei in 2020.

'The Coromandel community and businesses came together in 2020 to initiate the first scallop survey in Opito Bay. We will be monitoring progress to ensure officials follow through with the Minister's commitment to survey the scallop beds in the next three years,” says Chris Severne, chairman of Opito Bay Ratepayers Association.

In summary:

• All of the Coromandel scallop fishery (SCA CS) remains closed to commercial and recreational scallop fishing.
• The Total Allowable Catch (TAC) has been reduced from 19 to 11 tonnes.
• Commercial and recreational allowances have been set at zero, and the allowance for customary Māori fishing has been retained at 10 tonnes.