NZ Considers Closing Chatham Rise Orange Roughy Areas to Rebuild Stocks

“The East and South Chatham Rise orange roughy fishery is under pressure and needs careful management to recover,” Jones said.

 New Zealand is considering new protections for one of its most valuable deep-sea fisheries, with proposals released to close parts of the Chatham Rise orange roughy fishery to protect spawning grounds and help rebuild declining stocks.

Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today that public consultation has opened on a range of closure options designed to safeguard spawning areas in the East and South Chatham Rise fishery.

Fishery Under Pressure

Jones said the fishery—one of New Zealand’s most important deep-water fisheries—has come under increasing pressure and requires careful management to ensure long-term sustainability.

“The East and South Chatham Rise orange roughy fishery is under pressure and needs careful management to recover,” Jones said.

Last year the government significantly reduced commercial catch limits in the fishery as an initial step toward rebuilding stocks.

“At that time, I also directed officials to investigate options to protect orange roughy spawning areas in the fishery to help numbers grow,” Jones said.

Science-Based Protection Measures

The proposed closures are based on scientific analysis showing that fishing during spawning events can severely affect population recovery.

“These new options to close spawning areas are based on the best available scientific information,” Jones said.

Research indicates that targeting large aggregations of spawning orange roughy can have a disproportionate impact on stock levels, because it reduces the fish population’s ability to replenish itself.

Protecting spawning sites is therefore considered one of the most effective tools for rebuilding the fishery.

Three Closure Options Proposed

Officials have developed three potential closure areas of varying sizes to protect the main orange roughy spawning sites on the Chatham Rise.

For each proposed area, two types of closures are being considered:

• Seasonal closures, covering the main spawning period from 1 June to 16 July

• Permanent year-round closures to fully protect spawning grounds

These options allow policymakers to balance ecological protection with the economic importance of the fishery.

Protecting Jobs While Ensuring Sustainability

The Chatham Rise fishery has long been a key contributor to New Zealand’s seafood exports and regional employment, supporting fishing fleets, processing facilities and export markets.

Jones said maintaining the fishery’s sustainability is essential for protecting both marine ecosystems and economic benefits.

“The Chatham Rise fishery has supported jobs and our export industry for many years. Ensuring sustainability is important so the fishery continues to benefit New Zealand,” he said.

Public Consultation Now Open

The government is now seeking feedback from the fishing industry, scientists, iwi, environmental groups and the wider public before any final decisions are made.

Details of the proposals and submission guidelines are available on the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) website.

Jones encouraged stakeholders to take part in the consultation process.

“I encourage people to have their say,” he said.

The consultation will help determine whether seasonal or permanent protections are introduced to ensure the long-term recovery of orange roughy populations on the Chatham Rise, one of New Zealand’s most productive deep-sea fishing regions.