How to arrest crayfish decline?

By . Photography by Shaun Lee. 2018 december

Fisheries New Zealand is proposing a reduction in the number of rock lobsters recreational fishers can take per day from six to three. This proposal forms part of an earlier direction from the Minister of Fisheries to significantly reduce the total allowable catch for the CRA2 fishery, impacting both recreational and commercial fishing. This action is expected to double current rock lobster population in CRA2 in about 4 to 8 years

The consultation closes 19 December 2018 and any rules changes will come into effect by mid-2019.

Find out more here.

At the same time, Auckland University scientists are calling for an expansion of the Cape Rodney-Okakari Point (Goat Island) Marine Reserve, to stop crayfish numbers dwindling to an all-time low. Scientists say that 40 years of conservation efforts have been wiped out by intensive fishing on the marine reserve boundary.

Read more here.

 

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