Pursuant to section 11 of the Fisheries Act 1996, the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries, after complying with the requirements of that section, gives the following notice.

Notice

1.Title

This notice is the Fisheries (Onuku Pāua Closure) Notice 2021.

2. Commencement

This notice comes into force on 12 November 2021.

3. Onuku Closed in Respect of Pāua

(1) A person must not take Pāua from the Onuku Pāua Closure area while this notice is in force.

(2) In this clause:

Pāua means all species of pāua Haliotis iris, Haliotis australis and Haliotis virginea at any stage of their life history, whether living or dead.

Onuku Pāua Closure Area means that area of the New Zealand fisheries waters within Akaroa Harbour enclosed by a line that:

1. commences at Pinnacle Rock at 43°49.850′S and 172°56.633′E on the mean high-water mark; then
2. proceeds due west to a point 400 metres offshore at 43°49.850′S and 172°56.315′E; then
3. proceeds in a generally southerly direction contouring with the mean high-water mark to a point offshore from Te One Poto Bay at 43°50.789′S and 172°56.129′E;
4. then proceeding due east to the mean high-water mark at Te One Poto Bay at 43°50.789′S and 172°56.451′E; then
5. follows the mean high-water mark in a northerly direction back to the point of commencement.

4. Penalty

Under section 228 of the Fisheries Act 1996, every person commits an offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding $100,000 (as set out in section 252(5) of that Act) who contravenes, or fails to comply with, any sustainability measure implemented by notice in the New Zealand Gazette under section 11(4)(b)(i) of that Act.

5. Customary Fishing

This notice does not restrict the taking of pāua taken in accordance with Regulation 11 of the Fisheries (South Island Customary Fishing) Regulations 1999.

Dated this 1st day of October 2021.

Hon DAVID PARKER, Minister for Oceans and Fisheries.