A second online survey is under way and a second round of drop-in information sessions are working their way down the South Island. It notes, too, electronic reporting for commercial blue cod potting was being reviewed by the ministry, as commercial blue cod fishers are only required to report for statistical areas of roughly 5000sq km to 10,000sq km units. It asks whether better information on recreational use of the fishery would require renewing the 6-year-old national panel survey. Mr Halley said some of the proposals under consultation were already being implemented voluntarily, for example, an increased mesh size for commercial pots in the Southland and Chatham Islands blue cod fishery. The majority of options were likely to require implementation through the strategy once approved, he said.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 20, 2018 16:07 UTC