(1) These regulations may be cited as the Fisheries (Central Area Amateur Fishing) Regulations 1986.

(2) These regulations shall come into force on the 14th day after the date of their notification in the Gazette.

These regulations apply in respect of all persons taking or possessing any fish to which these regulations relate, other than commercial fishers taking or possessing fish under a permit, licence, quota, or other authorisation issued or granted under the Act or any regulations made under the Act.

In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires,—

No person shall take any eel from Lake Horowhenua or the Hokio Stream (as defined in section 18 of the Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Act 1956) unless that person does so in the exercise of the fishing rights referred to in that section.

(1) Subclause (2) applies to fish of the following species:

(2) No person may, on any day,—

• (a) take from within the Central Fishery Management Area more than 20 fish to which this subclause applies; or

• (b) possess more than 20 such fish in that area; or

• (c) possess more than 20 such fish taken from within that area.

(3) No person may, on any day,—

• (a) take from within the Central Fishery Management Area more than 10 snapper; or

• (b) possess more than 10 snapper in that area; or

• (c) possess more than 10 snapper taken from within that area.

(4) No person may, on any day,—

• (a) take from within the Central Fishery Management Area a total quantity of hapuku/bass and kingfish exceeding 5; or

• (b) possess a total quantity of hapuku/bass and kingfish exceeding 5 in that area; or

• (c) possess a total quantity of hapuku/bass and kingfish exceeding 5 taken from within that area.

(5) No person may, on any day,—

• (a) take from within the Central Fishery Management Area more than 3 kingfish; or

• (b) possess more than 3 kingfish in that area; or

• (c) possess more than 3 kingfish taken from within that area.

(6) A person contravenes this subclause if the person, on any day, takes or possesses more than the daily limit of fish, (as specified in this regulation), but not more than 3 times the daily limit.

(7) A person contravenes this subclause if the person, on any day, takes or possesses more than 3 times the daily limit of fish (as specified in this regulation).

Notwithstanding regulation 6 of the Fisheries (Amateur Fishing) Regulations 1986, the mesh size of any set net used or possessed by any person in the Central Fishery Management Area shall not be less than the appropriate size specified in the following table:

(1) No person may use a net for taking finfish in the waters of Hawke Bay known as the Wairoa Hard.

(2) In this regulation, Wairoa Hard means the waters within a line that—

• (a) commences at the mouth of the Moeangiangi River at a point 39°14.75′S and 177°01.32′E; and

• (b) then proceeds in a southerly direction to a point 39°16.6′S and 177°07.6′E; and

• (c) then proceeds in a north-easterly direction to a point 39°11.3′S and 177°21.2′E; and

• (d) then proceeds in a north-westerly direction to the Waihua River Mouth at a point 39°05.51′S and 177°17.60′E; and

• (e) then proceeds along the mean high-water mark to the northernmost bank of the mouth of the Mohaka River; and

• (f) then proceeds along the mean high-water mark to the point of commencement.

No person may use a set net in the waters of Pauatahanui Inlet lying inside a line drawn from North End at 41°06.13′S and 174°52.17′E to South End at 41°06.33′S and 174°52.18′E.

Notwithstanding anything in regulation 6 of the Fisheries (Amateur Fishing) Regulations 1986 (SR 1986/221), no person shall take any snapper from the Central Fishery Management Area that is less than 27 cm in length, or be in possession of any snapper taken from within that area that is less than 27 cm in length.

(1) The reference to ordinary paua in regulation 19(4) of the Fisheries (Amateur Fishing) Regulations 1986 does not apply to the paua of the Amateur Taranaki Paua Fishery Area. Instead, subclauses (2) to (4) of this regulation apply to that paua.

(2) No person may take any paua that is less than 85 mm in length from the Amateur Taranaki Paua Fishery Area.

(3) No person may possess, inside the Amateur Taranaki Paua Fishery Area, any paua that is less than 85 mm in length taken from the Amateur Taranaki Paua Fishery Area.

(4) No person may possess, outside the Amateur Taranaki Paua Fishery Area, any paua that is less than 125 mm in length taken from the Amateur Taranaki Paua Fishery Area.

(5) In this regulation, Amateur Taranaki Paua Fishery Area means the waters within a line that—

• (a) commences at a point on the northern bank of the Awakino River mouth at 38°39.88′S and 174°37.26′E; and

• (b) then proceeds due east to State Highway 3 at 38°39.88′S and 174°37.44′E; and

• (c) then proceeds in a generally north-easterly direction along State Highway 3 to a point where State Highway 3 intersects State Highway 4 at 38°24.84′S and 175°06.54′E; and

• (d) then proceeds in a generally southerly direction along State Highway 4 to a point where State Highway 4 intersects State Highway 3 at 39°57.05′S and 175°03.36′E; and

• (e) then proceeds in a generally north-westerly direction along State Highway 3 to a point where State Highway 3 intersects the southern bank of the Whanganui River at 39°56.76′S and 175°02.82′E; and

• (f) then proceeds in a generally westerly direction along the southern bank of the Whanganui River and along the wharf named South Mole to the navigational light “S Mole Head” at 39°57.00′S and 174°58.90′E; and

• (g) then proceeds due south-west to a point intersecting with the outer limit of the territorial sea at 40°06.44′S and 174°49.44′E; and

• (h) then proceeds in a generally northerly direction following the outer limit of the territorial sea to a point at 38°39.88′S and 174°21.42′E; and

• (i) then proceeds due east to the point of commencement.

(1) No person shall use any net or set line within the prescribed area.

(2) No person may use within the prescribed area any line having more than 3 hooks.

(3) No person shall take any fish within the conservation area other than kingfish or kahawai taken by trolling or by spearfishing.

(4) No person shall be in possession of any fishing gear within the prescribed area that is not permitted to be used in that area unless the gear is stowed or sealed in such a manner that it cannot readily be used for fishing.

(5) No person shall be in possession of any fishing gear within the conservation area that is not permitted to be used in that area unless the gear is stowed or sealed in such a manner that it cannot readily be used for fishing.

(6) In this regulation,—

No person may use a set net in waters within a line that—

• (a) commences at the mean high-water mark at Potikirua Point at 37°32.53′S and 178°04.91′E; and

• (b) then proceeds in a straight line in a northerly direction to a position approximately 2 nautical miles from the point of commencement at 37°30.6′S and 178°4.8′E; and

• (c) then proceeds in a generally westerly direction by a line every point of which is 2 nautical miles from the mean high-water mark to a point approximately 2 nautical miles north of Cape Runaway at 37°32.30′S and 177°59.00′E; and

• (d) then proceeds in a straight line in a southerly direction to the mean high-water mark at Cape Runaway at 37°32.3′S and 177°50′E; and

• (e) then proceeds along the line of the mean high-water mark in a generally easterly direction to the point of commencement.

(1) A person must not use a set net for fishing in the waters lying within an area bounded by a line that—

• (a) extends from Tirua Point (at 38°23.22′S and 174°38.04′E), then follows a line in a generally southerly direction by the mean high-water mark to the southernmost point of the north bank of the Awakino River (at 38°39.88′S and 174°37.24′E); and

• (b) then proceeds in a straight line across the Awakino River to a point on the south bank of the Awakino River (at 38°39.92′S and 174°37.22′E), then follows a line along the mean high-water mark to the southernmost point on the north bank of the Mokau River (at 38°42.36′S and 174°37.03′E); and

• (c) then proceeds in a straight line across the Mokau River to a point on the south bank of the Mokau River (at 38°42.40′S and 174°37.01′E), then follows a line along the mean high-water mark to the north bank of the Tongaporutu River (at 38°48.88′S and 174°35.23′E); and

• (d) then proceeds in a straight line across the Tongaporutu River to a point on the south bank of the Tongaporutu River (at 38°48.98′S and 174°35.23′E), then follows a line along the mean high-water mark to Pariokariwa Point (at 38°53.49′S and 174°30.35′E); and

• (e) then proceeds generally north-west 7 nautical miles to 38°49.23′S and 174°23.23′E; and

• (f) then proceeds in a northerly direction along a line 7 nautical miles from the mean high-water mark to a point (at 38°21.80′S and 174°29.43′E); and

• (g) then proceeds in a straight line along the Central Fishery Management Area boundary in an easterly direction to Tirua Point (at 38°23.22′S and 174°38.04′E).

(2) For the purposes of the area defined in subclause (1), a straight line joining the mean high-water marks at each side of a harbour entrance or, as the case may be, the natural entrance points of a river mouth must be treated as the inner boundary of that area if it extends seawards or as the outer boundary of that area if it extends landwards, except in the case of any harbours and rivers where specific co-ordinates are provided.

(1) No person may take fish, aquatic life, or seaweed from Pukerua Bay, except by the method of a hand-held line.

(2) In this regulation, Pukerua Bay means waters within a line that—

• (a) commences at a point on the coastline east of Wairaka Point at 41°01.84′S and 174°52.26′E; and

• (b) then proceeds north to a prominent rock at 41°01.68′S and 174°52.26′E; and

• (c) then proceeds generally north-east to a point on the coastline at 41°00.94′S and 174°54.96′E; and

• (d) then proceeds generally south-west following the coastline to the point of commencement.

(1) A person commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 if the person contravenes, or fails to comply with, any of regulations 3, 3A(6), 3B, 4, 4A, 4B, 4C, 5, 5B, or 5D.

(2) A person commits a serious non-commercial offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $20,000 if the person contravenes, of fails to comply with, any of regulations 3A(7), or 5C.

(3) It is a defence to a charge of possessing more than the specified maximum daily number of any fish in contravention of these regulations if the defendant satisfies the court that the number of fish possessed in excess of the relevant specified daily number were not taken in breach of the regulations.

The Fisheries (Maori Eel Fisheries) Notice 1983 (SR 1983/298) is hereby revoked.