Fiordland Recreational Fishing Group

11/01/2025

Expect a 20 minute walk to the boat ramp if heading into Milford fishing this week if you can even find a place to park . We sure could do with some space in there . Comments welcome

23/04/2024

New amateur fishing rules introduced to Fiordland from 25 April 2024 with the aim to rebuild stocks for our future.

https://www.fmg.org.nz/index.php/news/sweeping-changes-fishing-rules-fiordland-marine-area

04/12/2023

08/08/2023

On behalf of the Fiordland Marine Guardians

Fisheries New Zealand and the Guardians will be consulting on these proposals this weekend during the Southland Boat Show in Invercargill.

We invite you to come along to one of the following public sessions: 11am Saturday August 12th or 11am Sunday August 13th. These meetings will be held upstairs at the ILT Stadium on Surrey Park Road. You do not need to pay for entry to the boat show to attend these meetings.

The proposals in full and details on how to make a submission can be found on the Fisheries New Zealand website.

https://www.mpi.govt.nz/consultations/proposed-further-amendments-to-fishing-regulations-in-the-fiordland-marine-area

https://www.boatshowsouthland.co.nz/event-information/

23/07/2023

On Behalf of The Fiordland Marine Guardians

The Fiordland Marine Guardians welcome new amateur fishing rules for the Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) Marine Area. These rules are the product of three years’ work with the community to understand the issues and risks and develop effective solutions. The mahi doesn’t stop here. Proposals to introduce boat limits (total amateur take per vessel) and gear restrictions are now open for consultation. Please click the link below to learn more.

https://www.fmg.org.nz/news/minister-accepts-guardians-recommendations-changes-amateur-fishing-rules-fiordland

10/06/2023

Good to see some improvements made with the Milford ramp . Certainly makes life easier for all 👍

26/09/2022

Your submissions on proposed changes to the Amateur Fishing Regulations in Fiordland are due this week. We are uniquely placed to help shape the future of recreational fishing in Fiordland. Be sure to send feedback to MPI on the proposal and other matters relating to recreational fishing in the FMA before October 1st.

Have your sayFisheries New Zealand is consulting on proposed changes to recreational fishing rules for the Fiordland Marine Area under the Fisheries (Amateur Fishing) Regulations 2013. We invite feedback from tangata whenua, stakeholders, and the public on these proposed changes.

01/09/2022

REMEMBER THE 5th and final community drop-in session for the proposed changes to the amateur fishing regulations is on tonight. You still have until September 30th to make a submission.

TE ANAU CLUB FROM 5:30-7:30 pm

These sessions are run by Fisheries NZ, who are formally consulting on the proposal. There will be two presentation/Q&A sessions, so you don't need to be there for the whole session.

5:30-6:15 pm short presentation by FisheriesNZ, FMG and Fish Mainland (about the app they have developed) followed by Q&A.

Repeated at 6:30 pm.

If you are unable to come along, we really encourage you to learn about the proposal and make a submission before Sept 30th.

To read the proposal and make a submission visit:

We want your feedback on proposed changes to some recreational fishing rules.

29/08/2022

A community-drop in session is being held in Te Anau this Friday from 5:30-7:30 pm at the Te Anau Club as part of the public consultation on the Fiordland Marine Guardian's proposed changes to Amateur Fishing Regulations in the Fiordland Marine Area.

The sessions start tonight in Invercargill and are hosted by Fisheries NZ, and we encourage anyone interested in recreational fishing in the FMA to come along.

Other sessions are being held in Southland and Otago from 5:30-7:30 pm as follows:
Monday, 29 August 2022 – Ascot Park Hotel, Corner of Tay Street &, Racecourse Road, Invercargill 9810.
Tuesday, 30 August 2022 – Edgar Centre, 116 Portsmouth Drive, Andersons Bay, Dunedin 9012.
Wednesday 31 August 2022 – Gore District Memorial RSA, 12 Bowler Avenue, Gore 9710
Thursday, 1 September 2022 – Cromwell and Districts Presbyterian Church, 10 Elspeth Street, Cromwell 9310.

"Fisheries New Zealand has begun public consultation on proposed amendments to Amateur Fishing Regulations in the Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) Marine Area (FMA). The Fiordland Marine Guardians are seeking changes to the amateur fishing rules within the FMA to align them with the philosophy of 'fishing for a feed', not the freezer. This consultation marks a key milestone in the Guardians' review of fisheries sustainability in the FMA.
Listen to the Guardians speak about why this public consultation is so important and how you can participate in securing sustainable fisheries for future generations".
https://youtu.be/cQr49VZRPmo
To read the proposal and make a submission, visit: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/.../review-of-recreational..

22/08/2022

Public consultation opens on proposed changes to Amateur Fishing Regulations in Fiordland (posting on behalf of the Fiordland Marine Guardians)

This is a bit of a long read here but it's super important:

"Fisheries New Zealand has begun public consultation on proposed amendments to Amateur Fishing Regulations in the Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) Marine Area (FMA). The Fiordland Marine Guardians are seeking changes to the amateur fishing rules within the FMA to align them with the philosophy of 'fishing for a feed', not the freezer. This consultation marks a key milestone in the Guardians' review of fisheries sustainability in the FMA.

The philosophy of 'fishing for a feed', not the freezer, guided the development of the original Fiordland recreational rules in 2005 with the establishment of the Fiordland Marine Management Act. At that time, the Act, and the fisheries rules and regulations aligned with it, provided an innovative and future-focused means of ensuring Fiordland was cared for, for future generations. Unfortunately, the current regulations will not allow us to achieve healthy and sustainable recreational fisheries into the future.

Our renewed focus on fisheries sustainability commenced in 2019 when several fishers and charter boat operators raised concerns about fish stocks within the FMA. Of particular worry was the health of key fish stocks within the fiords, inside the habitat lines, which have been solely an amateur/recreational fishery since 2005. As a group with extensive first-hand experience of the area, we shared their concerns.

Multiple species targeted by recreational fishers, including blue cod/rāwaru, groper/hāpuku, pāua, and scallops, are considerably depleted in the Internal Waters of the fiords. There is clear evidence of increasing fishing pressure over time, and that trend is forecast to continue.

An unintended consequence of the fishing regulations introduced in 2005 has been a concentration of fishing effort in the entrances of many fiords, seaward of the habitat lines. There are clear signs that the current fishing pressure inside the fiords is unsustainable, and many key fish stocks require rebuilding.

Public consultation, which runs until Friday, September 30, focuses solely on changes to amateur fishing rules and regulations. It marks a key milestone for us following three years of engagement with Fiordland's fishing charter operators and the fishing community. Ngāi Tahu ki Murihiku are represented on the Fiordland Marine Guardians and have helped shape the proposed amendments.

We are the first to admit that our proposal is not perfect. The problem we need to solve is complex, and we all need to be part of delivering a workable solution for the good of this spectacular corner of the planet.

Management of recreational fisheries in Aotearoa New Zealand has been challenged by a lack of robust catch data. We are optimistic that a workable solution for Fiordland is within reach. Fish Mainland, a peak body representing a large number of recreational fishers in the South Island, has developed a self-reporting app in conjunction with Fisheries New Zealand. Crucially, Fiordland's fishing community has expressed a strong willingness to use it. We will continue to advocate for these initiatives and develop a more holistic way of managing the entire fishery in the years ahead.

Before making a submission, we encourage everyone to understand the problem that must be addressed and learn more about the proposed amendments. We will be presenting at community drop-in sessions hosted by Fisheries New Zealand in Dunedin, Invercargill, Cromwell, Gore and Te Anau from August 29 to September 2. Fish Mainland will also be there to provide more information about their self-reporting app.

Your input will help us strengthen the proposal and make any changes to the amateur fishing rules for the FMA more likely to succeed.

You can read the full proposal, find out more about the community drop-in sessions, and make a submission by following the link:

We want your feedback on proposed changes to some recreational fishing rules.

19/07/2022

Posting on behalf of the Fiordland Marine Guardians.
Beneath the Reflections - A user's guide to the Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) Marine Area has just had a 2022 update, including important information about new navigational hazards in the FMA and changes to the amateur fishing regulations that have come into effect in the past 12 months.
You can check out the latest version online here:https://www.fmg.org.nz/sites/default/files/2022-06/beneath-the-reflections-updated-june-22.pdf
If you are renewing your Clean Vessel Pass (essential for all craft operating in the FMA), please request an updated copy when you renew and take your current one out of circulation/off your vessel.

13/07/2022

Posting on behalf of the Fiordland Marine Guardians.

The Minister for the Environment is seeking nominations for members of the Fiordland Marine Guardians (the Guardians).

The Guardians are an advisory group established by the Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) Marine Management Act 2005. They are responsible for providing advice to Ministers, government departments, and Environment Southland on the management of the Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) Marine Area (FMA).

The Guardians must have a balanced mix of knowledge and experience in relation to the FMA, and at least five Guardians must reside in the Otago or Southland regions. One position is currently available to be filled.

For more information about the role and how to seek nomination visit: https://www.fmg.org.nz/news/call-nominations-fiordland-marine-guardians

22/06/2022

15/05/2022

Professor of Marine Biology, James Bell (Victoria University of Wellington Te Herenga Waka), presented their latest research results at our Fiordland Marine Guardians meeting two weeks ago. Since that time bleaching of marine sponges has been reported from other locations within the Fiordland Marine Area. IF YOU ARE DIVING IN THE FMA AND HAVE ANYTHING SIMILAR TO REPORT YOU CAN DO SO BY E-MAILING [email protected] and we will connect you with the research team.
*"For the first time there has been a mass bleaching of native sea sponges in Aotearoa, raising alarm about the impact climate change is having on marine ecosystems."
**"The warm waters have been a boon for anglers - with tuna and kingfish venturing much further south and being caught in decent numbers in Otago and Southland.
But [University of Otago oceanographer Rob] Smith said interlopers could displace local species, while the warm water could also lead to outbreaks of disease in scallops, mussels, oysters and clams.
Bell said sea sponges were a crucial link in the food chain and there could be serious consequences for fish numbers if they were wiped out.
The researchers are going back to Fiordland in a few weeks to look further at the spread of the bleaching and the cause."

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/467177/mass-bleaching-of-native-sea-sponges-in-fiordland-shocks-scientists?fbclid=IwAR2Vm3flKJpAdLuSqtF9NhKndUX1tG_iWo7GEY4p3njPNhDzYzGft6w6gUo

For the first time there has been a mass bleaching of native sea sponges in Aotearoa, raising alarm about the impact climate change is having on marine ecosystems.

08/04/2022

Another interesting read with some important information for visitors to the FMA.

Remember, it's always good to get the latest info about safe anchorages and moorings and access local knowledge.

We'll post more info on this as it comes to hand.

Environment Southland is investigating after it received complaints about some of RealNZ's moorings in the Fiordland National Park.

07/04/2022

Hi folks. We thought you might be interested in this. Please note that this plan change is about capping commercial activity and not about restricting private access. The headline is a bit clickbaity.

A Fiordland tourism operator is welcoming a proposal to address the impact that commercial activities are having on the area. Yesterday,...

09/03/2022

The Tindale Marine Research Charitable Trust are running an inshore fish tagging programme and have asked that we keep an eye out for and report any tagged fish.

08/03/2022

Are you interested in trialling 'Mainland Catch' – the new self-reporting phone app for blue cod?

Fish Mainland has been working with Plink Software in Nelson to develop and implement a recreational fisher self-reporting system applied first to the South Island blue cod fishery. The system’s interface with fishers is a simple, easy-to-use smart phone app.
Plink Software is currently testing the app.

If you are interested in participating in the test, please contact Jim Youngman, Plink Software [email protected] and ask for a registration form (very little info is required by you to participate in the trial).

"The success of the Mainland Catch is squarely in the hands of South Island fishers. Only fishers can provide the much-needed data to improve the management of the largest shared fishery in South Island waters; fisher-provided data, compared with the other sectors’ data, will be the best way to substantiate when a ‘red’ area warrants becoming ‘amber’ or ‘green.’ "

Blue cod is the largest shared fishery in South Island waters. It is the most popular recreational fishery, and so a significant portion of fishers’ annual expenditure can be directly attributed to it. The estimated annual value of the South Island commercial blue cod harvest is $6.5 million. The ...