Under section 186A of the Fisheries Act 1996, the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries gives the following notice.

Notice

1. Title

This notice is the Fisheries (Marsden Bank and Mair Bank Temporary Closure) Notice 2026.

2. Commencement

This notice comes into force on 29 June 2026.

3. Expiry of this notice

This notice expires on the close of 28 June 2028.

4. Interpretation

In this notice:

Marsden Bank and Mair Bank means all that area of New Zealand fisheries waters enclosed by a line:

1. commencing at a point on the mean high-water mark at the base of the Marsden Point Marine Terminal jetty (at 35°50.24′S and 174°29.91′E); then
2. proceeding in a north-easterly direction to a point at the seaward end of the Marsden Point Marine Terminal jetty (at 35°50.21′S and 174°29.95′E); then
3. proceeding in a south-easterly direction to the Whangarei Harbour main channel port-hand buoy number 18 (at 35°50.32′S and 174°30.44′E); then
4. proceeding in a south-easterly direction to the Whangarei Harbour main channel port-hand buoy number 16 (at 35°50.54′S and 174°30.94′E); then
5. proceeding in a south-easterly direction to the Whangarei Harbour main channel port-hand buoy number 14 (at 35°50.76′S and 174°31.19′E); then
6. proceeding in a south-westerly direction to a point offshore (at 35°50.86′S and 174°30.50′E); then
7. proceeding due west to a point on the mean high-water mark (at 35°50.86′S and 174°29.65′E); then
8. proceeding along the mean high-water mark in a generally north-easterly then north-westerly direction to the point of commencement.

pipi means a shellfish of the species Paphies australis.

scallop means a shellfish of the species Pecten novaezelandiae.

shellfish includes all species of the phylum Echinodermata and phylum Mollusca and all species of the class Crustacea at any stage of their life history, whether living or dead.

spiny rock lobster means a shellfish of the species Jasus edwardsii.

5. Marsden Bank and Mair Bank is closed in respect to all species of shellfish (except pipi, scallops and spiny rock lobster)

A person must not take any species of shellfish (except pipi, scallop and spiny rock lobster) from Marsden Bank or Mair Bank.

6. Customary Fishing

This notice does not restrict the taking of any species taken in accordance with the Fisheries (Kaimoana Customary Fishing) Regulations 1998.

Dated this 15th day of June 2026.

Hon SHANE JONES, Minister for Oceans and Fisheries.

Explanatory Note

This note is not a part of this notice but is intended to indicate its general effect.

Under section 11 of the Fisheries Act 1996, the commercial and recreational harvest of pipi, scallop and spiny rock lobster is prohibited within the Marsden Bank and Mair Bank Temporary Closure.