Crayfish closure proposals offer hope for the future

The Environmental Law Initiative welcomes Fisheries New Zealand’s proposals to close crayfish fisheries along the east coast of Northland, the Hauraki Gulf, and the Bay of Plenty, to allow recovery of crayfish populations and ecosystems. 

ELI Legal Advisor Reto Blattner de-Vries says “We are pleased that Fisheries NZ is showing leadership in responding to the kina barren crisis.

"Decisions under the Fisheries Act need to be made according to the best available information and science.  

“The science has been clear for some time now; closures to crayfish fisheries are needed to restore their populations and habitats.  

“In many areas, there are so few crayfish left they are considered functionally extinct.” 

On Thursday, Fisheries NZ announced it is consulting on options for the rock lobster fishery. The agency’s preferred option is to implement a year-round closure to recreational and commercial spiny rock lobster fisheries on the east coast of Northland from the North Cape to Te Arai Point, as well as the additional area adjacent to the inner Hauraki Gulf closure. It also indicated it prefers reductions in recreational catch limits for packhorse and spiny rock lobster. 

This change in approach from Fisheries NZ has been hard won and follows two court cases by the Environmental Law Initiative and hāpu, including Te Uri o Hikihiki, Ngāti Kaharau and Ngāti Hau Hapū ki Hokianga, against previous decisions on CRA 1 catch limits. 

It also comes after the proliferation of kina barrens across large swathes of the east coast of Northland. Crayfish are a key predator of kina in kelp forests. However, overfishing has crashed crayfish populations, resulting in the proliferation of kina who have eaten their way through kelp forests. Once rich coastal ecosystems are now comparatively lifeless kina barrens.     

“This is a cautionary tale – Fisheries NZ should not wait until ecological catastrophe takes place to close a fishery.  

“Everyone, including fishers, wins from taking a precautionary approach to the management of our fisheries. It is a positive commitment to our future.” says Blattner de-Vries. 

Fisheries NZ is accepting submissions on the proposals until 5pm on 22 September 2025.