Pursuant to regulation 22 of the Fisheries (South Island Customary Fishing) Regulations 1999, the Director-General of the Ministry for Primary Industries gives the following notice.

Notice

1.Title

This notice is the Fisheries (Declaration of Popotai Taumaka Mātaitai Reserve) Notice 2023.

2. Commencement

This notice comes into force on the 28th day after the date of its notification in the New Zealand Gazette.

3. Declaration of Popotai Taumaka Mātaitai Reserve

(1) This notice declares the Popotai Taumaka Mātaitai Reserve.

(2) The area of the mātaitai reserve is the area of South Island fisheries waters within 1.0km of the mean high-water mark of the Open Bay Islands. Bignell Reef is in the mātaitai reserve area.

4. Conditions relating to Commercial Fishing in the Popotai Taumaka Mātaitai Reserve

(1) Commercial fishing for rock lobster is excepted from the general prohibition on commercial fishing within the Popotai Taumaka Mātaitai Reserve.

(2) The use of commercial rock lobster holding pots is excepted from the general prohibition on commercial fishing within the Popotai Taumaka Mātaitai Reserve.

(3) Commercial fishing vessels can anchor in the Popotai Taumaka Mātaitai reserve.

(4) Fish taken commercially from outside of the Popotai Taumaka Mātaitai Reserve may be processed within the Popotai Taumaka Mātaitai Reserve.

(4) In this clause –

rock lobster means spiny rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) and packhorse rock lobster (Jasus verreaux).

fish means all species of finfish and shellfish, at any stage of their life history, whether living or dead.

Dated at Wellington this 3rd day of July 2023.

ROBERT GEAR, Acting Director Fisheries Management, Ministry for Primary Industries (acting under delegated authority).