Explanatory note

This note is not part of the order, but is intended to indicate its general effect.

This order amends Schedules 2, 5, 6, and 8 of the Fisheries Act 1996. Most of the amendments come into force on 1 April 2007, except for the amendment to Schedule 8, which comes into force on 1 October 2007.

Schedule 2 lists stocks whose abundance is highly variable. The Minister is allowed to increase the total allowable catch for any of those stocks within a fishing year. This order removes South Island freshwater eel stocks ANG11, ANG12, ANG14, ANG15, and ANG16 from Schedule 2. This means that the only South Island freshwater eel stock to be listed will be ANG13 (the Lake Ellesmere stock).

Quota aggregation of up to and including 45% is permitted for species listed in Schedule 5. Twenty-nine additional species are inserted into the schedule by this order.

Schedule 6 lists the species under the quota management system that, subject to certain conditions, may be returned to the sea. Surf clams and Otago cockles are now included provided that they are returned to the sea as soon as reasonably practicable and that they are likely to survive on their return.

Schedule 8 lists the minimum annual holdings of annual catch entitlement for particular stocks. The effect of the amendment to the schedule is to reduce the minimum annual holdings for PAU6 (the West Coast South Island paua fishery) from 1 tonne to 100 kilograms.