WHY THE BILL MATTERS
 

The New Zealand Parliament is currently considering amendments to the Fisheries Act 1996. The Fisheries Amendment Bill is about making sure our fisheries management system continues to evolve alongside better data, modern technology, and practical, evidence-based decision-making.

Seafood New Zealand supports the overall direction of these changes. We believe they will strengthen – not weaken – our fisheries management system for all New Zealanders.

There has been a significant amount of misinformation about these proposals. For example, the misleading narrative around the removal of the minimum legal sizes. 

In simple terms, the proposals in the Bill will:

• modernise how fisheries are managed
• improve efficiency
• strengthen the use of data and information
• maintain sustainability as the cornerstone.

The proposals will not:

• lower environmental standards
• remove transparency
• remove public consultation
• take cameras off commercial vessels
• undermine the Quota Management System (QMS)
• change Treaty settlement obligations.

WHY YOUR SUBMISSION MATTERS 
 

The Fisheries Amendment Bill is a practical proposal to improve how we manage our fisheries. It introduces common-sense changes that will make the system work better not just for the commercial sector, but for everyone who values healthy oceans and sustainable seafood. 

It’s important that politicians hear this matters. The Bill makes meaningful improvements that help us get the most value from our fisheries, while still protecting fish stocks for the long term. 

Submissions on the Fisheries Amendment Bill have closed as of 6 May 2026. 

Learn more about the Parliamentary submission process here. 

GET THE FACTS
 

The Fisheries Act is complex, so we’ve pulled together a series of high-level summaries of what’s being proposed to help inform your submissions.

Click on the links below to read over our helpful summaries:

• Alternative deemed values  
• Catch limit tools
• Changes to ACE Carry Forward provisions 
• Changes to on-board camera programme
• Clarifying the scope of TACs 
• Managing medium and low information stocks 
• Landings and discards
• Non-regulatory measures
• Social, cultural and economic considerations
• Timeframe for judicial review

NEED help?
 

After reading through the above, if you have any questions or comments or would like further support please email [email protected].