NZ to Introduce Adaptive, Data-Driven Pricing for Commercial Fisheries in QMS Upgrade

Under the current Quota Management System (QMS), deemed value rates are set uniformly across each fish stock, regardless of how the fish is caught or processed.

 

New Zealand’s fisheries management system is set for a significant digital-era upgrade, as the Government moves to modernise how commercially caught fish are valued when landed outside quota limits—bringing real-world market data and vessel technology into regulatory decision-making.

Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced proposed changes to the deemed value system—fees paid by commercial fishers who land fish beyond their quota allowance—that will allow rates to better reflect how, where, and in what condition fish are landed.

The reform, to be included in the upcoming Fisheries Act Amendment Bill, signals a shift away from a rigid, one-size-fits-all pricing model toward a more adaptive framework—one that acknowledges operational realities, emerging fishing technologies, and increasingly complex supply chains.

From Static Pricing to Context-Aware Valuation

Under the current Quota Management System (QMS), deemed value rates are set uniformly across each fish stock, regardless of how the fish is caught or processed. While designed to promote sustainability and full catch reporting, the system has struggled to keep pace with evolving fishing practices.

“In consultation, it became clear that the current model isn’t working for some of our most productive commercial operators,” Mr Jones said. “We need a future-focused fisheries system that is flexible, responsive, and grounded in real market outcomes.”

Inshore fish stocks, typically landed fresh by small coastal vessels, command premium prices and form the basis for existing deemed value calculations. But climate-driven species movement and expanded stock distribution have led to growing volumes of inshore fish being caught incidentally by deepwater freezer vessels—where the catch must be frozen during long trips, sharply reducing its market value.

Despite this, fishers are still required to pay deemed values based on fresh-fish pricing, creating a growing economic mismatch.

A Smarter System for a Changing Industry

The proposed reform would allow alternative deemed value rates to be set for inshore stocks caught by deepwater freezer vessels—effectively introducing a context-aware pricing mechanism that aligns regulatory costs with actual landed value.

For technology observers, the move represents a broader trend: regulators designing systems that integrate operational data, supply-chain realities, and sustainability metrics into dynamic policy tools.

“This change enables smarter calibration of incentives,” Mr Jones said. “It ensures sustainability objectives are met without imposing disproportionate costs where market value is demonstrably lower.”

Marlin Proposal Withdrawn, Further Species Under Review

In a parallel decision, the Minister confirmed the Government will not proceed with a proposal to allow commercial landing and sale of marlin bycatch, following further assessment of the risks and benefits.

Advice is still being sought on the management of several other species as part of the wider reform package.

What Happens Next

The Fisheries Act Amendment Bill is expected to be introduced to Parliament in early 2026, with public submissions invited during the select committee process.

Early adopters—including commercial fishing operators, data and compliance technology providers, and sustainability-focused innovators—are encouraged to engage early, shaping how adaptive pricing models and digital monitoring tools can support both profitability and environmental outcomes in one of the world’s most closely watched fisheries systems.