New Zealand’s deepwater industry will start the new fishing year under tighter restrictions on orange roughy.
The government has confirmed the ORH 3B TAC will fall from 4,995 tonnes to 2,349 tonnes. The industry will be held to a voluntary ceiling of 324 tonnes, down from 2,755 tonnes for the East and South Chatham Rise. Officials say the cuts are intended to protect one of the country’s most valuable deepwater species.
The change follows a 53 percent reduction made in 2023–24, when the TAC was cut from 5,970 tonnes to 2,755 tonnes. Industry leaders acknowledged the decision as part of science-led fisheries management, while emphasising the importance of ensuring regulations remain proportionate.
“Our orange roughy stocks are important – and we want them to thrive, not only for today but into the future,” said Seafood New Zealand chief executive Lisa Futschek.
“To ensure we can fish sustainably for generations we need to continue our efforts to better understand these fish.”
Seafood New Zealand said the industry has taken proactive steps to support sustainability, noting its recommendation in 2023 for Fisheries New Zealand to cut limits on the Chatham Rise fishery.
“As marine stewards, commercial fishers understand more than most the importance of healthy fisheries and marine ecosystems while ensuring the long-term viability of New Zealand’s deepwater fisheries,” Futschek said.
Aaron Irving, Seafood NZ’s general manager for deepwater, described the quota reductions as part of responsible management. “Adjusting catch limits in response to the changes that we measure in fish populations is the essence of fisheries management,” he said.
The orange roughy decision was part of a wider biannual stock review. TAC cuts for jack mackerel disappointed the industry, with Seafood New Zealand saying “there is no information indicating a sustainability risk.”
A modest increase for snapper in SNA 7 was welcomed but labelled insufficient. The abundance of snapper is creating what fishers describe as a “choke species” problem, where unavoidable bycatch limits their ability to harvest other species and exposes them to penalties.
Meanwhile, anchovy, sprat, and garfish stocks remain unchanged, a move the sector supported on the grounds that there was no evidence to justify cuts.
Seafood NZ said the ongoing challenge is finding a balance between conservation goals and the economic realities of fishing communities.
“With continued investment in science and a shared commitment to stewardship, we are confident in ensuring the sustainability of our orange roughy fisheries for generations to come,” Futschek stated.