This notice is made under section 11 of the Fisheries Act 1996.

Notice

1. Title

This notice is the Fisheries (Orange Roughy ORH 3B Spawning Closure) Notice 2026.

2. Commencement

This notice comes into force on 1 June 2026.

3. Interpretation

In this notice:

North-west Spawning Box of the East and South Chatham Rise means the area of New Zealand fisheries waters enclosed within a line that:

1. starts at a point at 42°30.000′S and 178°00.000′W; then
2. proceeds east to a point at 42°30.000′S and 176°52.000′W; then
3. proceeds south to a point at 42°59.000′S and 176°52.000′W; then
4. proceeds west to a point at 42°59.000′S and 178°00.000′W; then
5. proceeds north to the starting point (at 42°30.000′S and 178°00.000′W).

Orange roughy means orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus).

4. Orange Roughy ORH 3B Spawning Area Closure

(1) A commercial fisher must not take orange roughy from the north-west spawning box of the East and South Chatham Rise during the period from 1 June to 16 July in any year.

(2) Clause 4(1) does not apply where the orange roughy were taken as an inevitable consequence of the lawful taking of other fisheries resources.

Dated at Wellington this 29th day of May 2026.

Hon SHANE JONES, Minister for Oceans and Fisheries.