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 (SCA 1 Closure) Notice 2022.

2. Commencement

This notice comes into force on 1 April 2022.

3. Prohibition on Taking Scallops

(1) A person must not take scallops from SCA1.

(2) In this clause, SCA 1 means the Quota management area SCA1—Northland scallop fishery as defined in Part 3 of Schedule 1 of the Fisheries Act 1996.

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).

5. Customary Fishing

This notice does not restrict the taking of scallops taken in accordance with regulations 50–52 of the Fisheries (Amateur Fishing) Regulations 2013 or the Fisheries (Kaimoana Customary Fishing) Regulations 1998.

6. Defences

It is a defence for any person charged with taking scallops from SCA1 if that person proves that the scallops were washed ashore.

Dated at Wellington this 21st day of March 2022.

Hon DAVID PARKER, Minister for Oceans and Fisheries.