This notice is made under regulation 54(2)(a) of the Fisheries (Amateur Fishing) Regulations 2013.

Notice

1. Title

This notice is the Fisheries (Amateur-fishing Charter Vessel Reporting) Notice.

2. Commencement

This notice comes into force on the 1 November 2024.

From 1 November 2024 to 13 December 2024, amateur-fishing charter vessel operators must either comply with this notice or comply with the Fisheries (Amateur-fishing Charter Vessel Reporting) Notice 2020, issued on 4 August 2020.

3. Notice revoked

This notice revokes the Fisheries (Amateur-Fishing Charter Vessel Reporting) Notice 2020 (MPI 1238) (New Zealand Gazette, 4 August 2020, Notice No. 2020-go3439).

4. Interpretation

(1) In this notice—

Act means the Fisheries Act 1996.

Big game trolling means using the fishing method trolling to target bill fish or tuna.

Fishing trip means any trip, from departing a port until returning to a port, in which persons perform fishing activities on a vessel operated by an amateur-fishing charter vessel operator.

Regulations means the Fisheries (Amateur Fishing) Regulations 2013.

(2) A term used in this notice that is defined in the Act or the Regulations, but not in this notice, has the meaning given by the Act or the Regulations.

(3) In this notice fishing activities during a fishing trip are divided into fishing events as follows:

1. For all fishing, except Big Game Trolling, a fishing event starts when a fishing activity initially starts or when fishing activities start again after having ended under clause (3)(b).
2. For all fishing, except Big Game Trolling, a fishing event ends when fishing activity ends or when any one of the following occur:
1. target species, fishing method, or the number of people actively fishing changes, or
2. if the fishing method involves a static location, then each time the location changes, or
3. if the fishing method involves a changing location (such as drifting or trolling), then each time when that location changes by 6 or more nautical miles.
3. For Big Game Trolling, a fishing event starts when any one of the following occur:
1. trolling lines are first put in the water; or
2. at noon, if the vessel was fishing immediately before noon.
4. For Big Game Trolling, a fishing event ends when any one of the following occur:
1. at noon, if the vessel was fishing before noon; or
2. when the trolling lines are removed from the water.

5. Requirements for a trip report

(1) An amateur-fishing charter vessel operator must complete a trip report for each day of a fishing trip for each vessel operated by the operator.

(2) A trip report must include the following information:

1. the date;
2. the MNZ/MSA number of the vessel (if one exists);
3. the name of the vessel (if one exists);
4. the MPI operator number;
5. the port of departure.

(3) If no fishing trips are undertaken during any calendar month, an amateur-fishing charter vessel operator must complete a “NIL” trip report for each vessel operated by the operator for that calendar month.

6. Requirements for an activity report

(1) An amateur-fishing charter vessel operator must complete an activity report at the start of each fishing event.

(2) An activity report must include the following information about the fishing event:

1. the target species;
2. the fishing method;
3. the number of people actively fishing;
4. the fishing location;

(3) An amateur-fishing vessel operator undertaking big game trolling, in addition to clause 6(1), must complete an activity report at the end of the last fishing event when lines are removed from the water.

7. Requirements for a catch report

(1) An amateur-fishing charter vessel operator must complete a catch report, at the end of each fishing event, for the following species of fish caught in New Zealand fisheries waters:

1. bass (Polyprion americanus);
2. blue cod (Parapercis colias);
3. bluenose (Hyperoglyphe antarctica);
4. hapuku (Polyprion oxygeneios);
5. kingfish (Seriola lalandi);
6. Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis);
7. scallop (Pecten novaezelandiae);
8. snapper (Pagrus auratus);
9. southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii);
10. spiny or red rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii);
11. tarakihi (Nemadactylus macropterus);
12. paua (Haliotis iris, H. australis);
13. oysters (Ostrea chilensis).

(2) A catch report for a species of fish must include the following information:

1. the species of fish;
2. the number of fish of each species that were caught;
3. the number of fish of each species that were kept;
4. the actual or estimated total weight of each species of fish that were kept.

(3) A catch report must include the time spent fishing (being the duration of the fishing event).

8. How reports must be provided

(1) The amateur-fishing charter vessel operator must provide the trip report, the activity report, and the catch report electronically using an electronic system provided by the Chief Executive for the purpose.

(2) In providing the information—

1. weights must be recorded or estimated in kilograms greenweight;
2. times must be recorded in hours and minutes;
3. dates must be recorded in the form dd/mm/yy;
4. locations must be recorded to the nearest second of latitude and longitude.

9. When reports must be provided

(1) An amateur-fishing charter vessel operator must provide the trip report, the activity report, and the catch report within 24 hours of the end of the fishing trip.

(2) If the trip report is a “NIL” trip report it must be provided 24 hours after the end of the relevant calendar month.

Dated at Wellington this 22nd day of October 2024.

RICHARD FORD, Acting Director Science and Information, Fisheries New Zealand, for the Chief Executive of the Ministry for Primary Industries.

Information

A person who is required to provide reports or who has custody of reports must, on request by the chief executive or a fishery officer:

1. immediately produce for inspection the report that is the subject of the request (whether or not completed or already provided to the chief executive); and
2. allow copies to be taken of that report.