by Ben Hope
Government’s Quota management System (QMS) has resulted in over-fishing of fish stocks and the use of environmentally damaging fishing methods says Scott Macindoe the president of the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council in the organisations just released“Sport Fishing Yearbook 2026”.
“Year after year, we have to deal with indifferent ministry officials, over allocated fisheries, the ongoing use of indiscriminate and destructive mobile bottom contact fishing methods and the constant threat of being forced into the dysfunctional and failing Quota management system as a minor shareholder,” he said.
Scott Macindoe said the coalition government’s post election coalition agreement had been harsh on the public interests in the marine environment and fishery. All they offer is longer durations for marine farming permits and the policy to ‘remove regulations that impede the productivity and the enormous potential of the seafood sector’.
“Basically a fishing industry wish list.”
The Sport Fishing Council had made an Official Information Act request for the ministry’s advice paper but to date there has been no response.
Ministry Games
“More ministry gamesmanship, no good will. What is there to hide?” he asked.
Elsewhere in the “Sport Fishing Yearbook 2026”, co-chairs of the ultra-hard working Fisheries Management Standing Committee, Mark Connor and Wayne Bicknell were also critical of the QMS.
“Much of the depletion seen in coastal fisheries stems from ineffective management under the QMS that regulates commercial fishing,” they said.
“Officials continue to sanction the use of destructive fishing methods to the detriment of coastal marine environment and fish stocks.”
With each passing year, there are more closures and rahui in response to depleted fisheries.
“Our scallop fishery has collapsed and crayfish on the east coast could be next, retrograde events that have occurred under the QMS. It’s clear that how we manage our fisheries, the status quo of the Quota Management System, is not working.”
Corporate Commercial
Depletion of fisheries is almost entirely due to corporate commercial fishing. Around 90 percent of commercially harvested fish is exported overseas and consumers in other countries often pay less for fish than New Zealand consumers do at the local fish shop.
Recreational fishing mostly has little impact and the latest National Panel Survey estimating recreational harvest in 2022-23 confirmed that New Zealanders take home way less than 5 percent of the total fish catch.
“Despite these facts, cuts to recreational bag limits and allowances are often the first target by the ministry and minister when a fishery is showing signs of depletion. This protects commercial quota from necessary reductions and as long as the QMS is in place, this protection of private commercial interests will continue.”
Minister Shane Jones
Mark Connor and Wayne Bicknell were highly critical of the coalition government’s failure to properly manage the fishery.
“While the current government is in power until the end of 2026, we can continue to expect more challenging times, fast-tracking and the on-going Ministerial led pressure from Shane Jones to prioritise exports.”
The Sport Fishing Council has vowed to strongly advocate for good fisheries management.
Kindred organisation LegaSea’s Project Leader Sam Woolford in a report to the Yearbook also stressed the crisis around fisheries mismanagement.
“Thirteen years on, LegaSea has grown exponentially, as more Kiwis witness the decline of once-abundant coastal fish species and the degradation of our marine environment. Our call to restore abundance and biodiversity for future generations remains more urgent than ever and won’t fade until we see more meaningful reform of the failing Quota Management System,” he said.
The Fisheries Quota Management System (QMS) is absolutely neo-liberal ideology.
It initially excluded major species such as kahawai, which were initially left out of the QMS, leading to overfishing of these stocks. It’s still happening. Kahawai are being over-fished.
Unrealistically high quotas – beneficial to corporate companies – were set too high, endangering fish stocks. The bottom biomass level for all species was set at 20% of virgin biomass, an approach that was too low and with no research.
Commercial influence by way of political donations leading to “mates” culture with ministers and MPs influence leading to biassed decision-making leaving recreational fishing public out.
Ministry failure to do enough research has led to mis-management issues. Think Orange roughy fished to 3%, 15% and 17% of “virgin biomass.”
Thank goodness to Sport Fishing Council and Legasea who speak out on behalf of the interest of sensible management and expose the biassed, corrupt QMS.
Thanks Ben. A very meaningful article. Please keep them coming.
John Key was a born money trader … so his governing methodology centred on boosting export revenue by whatever ruthless means.
Chris Luxon, being unoriginal, is tying to emulate Key … but in a puppet-like fashion.
Shane Jones is his willing henchman … tasked with squeezing as much money from commercial fisheries as possible.
While turning a blind eye to the consequences.
The sooner deemed values set up by Talley and co are scrapped rethought and a new fairer system introduced the better. It would stop a lot of illegal practices the fisherman are forced into
The sooner the better a cap is put on all Political Donations > Starting with the Fisheries Minister ? Also looking at the wider picture with the marine food chain , not good news both Norway & PRC China, are badly OVER fishing Krill right now on our doorstep in the Southern Ocean ? This will have an effect, starting with Whales doing a starve .