MPI Fisheries - Marlborough/Canterbury

MPI Fisheries - Marlborough/Canterbury This page is run by MPI for recreational fishers and the local community. If this happens, we may hide your repeated content.

Our job is to help sustainably manage fisheries by working with communities to educate the public and enforce the fishing rules.

*Know the rules*
• Download the FREE NZ Fishing Rules App (the app works without signal or data)
• Find your local fishing rules on our website: www.mpi.govt.nz/fishing-aquaculture/recreational-fishing/fishing-rules/
• Pick up a brochure from the office or a local fishing supplies store
• Free text the name of a species to 9889 to get size and bag limits texted to you
• Ring us at the office: www.mpi.govt.nz/contact-us/mpi-fisheries-offices/

*Report illegal fishing*
If you’re out and about and you think that something is happening that shouldn't be, call free on 0800 4 POACHER (0800 47 62 24). Your calls DO make a difference.

*Community guidelines*
We want to make sure our social media pages are safe for everyone so ask that you please follow our community guidelines. Be respectful
• Don’t make comments that contain offensive, profane, defamatory, threatening, or inappropriate language or intent. This includes language that is racist, sexist, discriminatory, contains potentially harmful advice, or is not accurate.
• Differences of opinion are okay, but comments containing personal attacks towards others, including our employees, will be hidden or deleted.
• If you notice any inappropriate activity, or you're being personally harassed, let us know by direct messaging us. Don’t spam us
• Making the same point repeatedly across the same or different posts is considered spam. Stay on topic
• Only make comments that are relevant to the topic or theme of the post.
• If you disagree with something and make the same point every time we post, or repeatedly post irrelevant content, your comments will be considered spam.
• Don’t post advertisements or solicitations, or use fake accounts or bots to troll our pages. If you have something that you think we might want to share, you can direct message us instead. Protect your own and others’ privacy
• Never post comments containing personal, identifying, sensitive or confidential information. This includes written information as well as photos and videos.
• If we need any details from you, we’ll ask you to direct message us. Personal information shared publicly will be moderated to protect your privacy and the privacy of others.
• By making any contribution to our social media channels – including comments, photos or videos – you’re granting us permission to reuse this content on our channels (e.g., sharing/retweeting a picture). If you have any issues about copyright, you need to talk to us about it as soon as possible. Be aware of the law
• Participating in, suggesting, or encouraging any illegal activity will result in being blocked and you may be reported to the New Zealand Police.
• You are prohibited from posting any videos, images or text referencing criminal activity, or anything that breaches any court orders.
• You are prohibited from posting content that breaches legislation, copyright or intellectual property rights beyond what is protected as fair use.
• You are prohibited from impersonating or leading us to falsely belief that you are someone else or represent a company or brand which you do not. Moderation policy
We encourage feedback, questions and discussion on our social media accounts but ask that you please respect others. We may at our discretion:
• Determine what constitutes inappropriate content;
• Inform you if we remove or edit inappropriate content and give you the opportunity to post revised comments; and
• Block users who breach our community guidelines or Facebook’s terms and conditions of Facebook. If you think behaviour or activity needs to be brought to our attention, we would be grateful if you direct message us. If we block you from our social media channels and you think we’ve made a mistake, contact us on [email protected]

Disclaimer
The content provided on this page is intended to provide accurate information about our work and events in the space that the Ministry for Primary Industries operates in. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information set out on its page is accurate. However, visitors to this page are advised that:
• The information provided does not replace or alter the laws of New Zealand and other official guidelines or requirements;
• MPI does not accept any responsibility or liability whatsoever, whether in contract, tort, equity or otherwise, for any action taken, or reliance placed, as a result of reading any part, or all, of the information on its page or for any error, inadequacy, deficiency, flaw in or omission from the information provided;
• All links, shared content, and references to other products, websites or organisations are provided for convenience only and are not, and should not be taken as, endorsement of those products, websites or any information contained in those websites; and
• MPI does not necessarily endorse any website or organisation, which has links to any of our websites. Liking, favouriting or sharing information does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation. Biosecurity advice
Advice given through our social media channels is not a guarantee that your goods will be cleared. It’s a guide only and is based on the details you provide and New Zealand’s current import requirements which are subject to change. MPI denies any and all responsibility for any inaccuracy, error, or any other deficiency in this information, and also fully excludes any and all liability to the maximum extent permitted by law of any kind to any person or entity that chooses to rely upon the information. For more information on importation requirements please visit www.biosecurity.govt.nz

🐟 Marlborough Sounds blue cod closure 🐟 The annual Marlborough Sounds blue cod closed season begins today, and lasts unt...
01/09/2026

🐟 Marlborough Sounds blue cod closure 🐟

The annual Marlborough Sounds blue cod closed season begins today, and lasts until 10 January 2027 inclusive,

During this period, blue cod cannot be taken from the Marlborough Sounds area. Make sure you check the boundaries before heading out fishing.

The easiest way to stay up to date with fishing rules, closures and area-specific requirements is through the free NZ Fishing Rules App. https://bit.ly/37FZ3Hn

The updated information also includes guidance on sustainable fishing during the closure, including how to avoid targeting blue cod, along with answers to frequently asked questions. https://bit.ly/47HcMgx

Before you head out, check the rules for the area in which you are fishing. A quick check before you launch can save problems later. https://bit.ly/4gfXu4p

** Kaikōura pāua reminder **The pāua recreational fishing season in Kaikōura, from Marfells Beach to the Conway River ha...
01/09/2026

** Kaikōura pāua reminder **

The pāua recreational fishing season in Kaikōura, from Marfells Beach to the Conway River has closed.

From today it is illegal to take pāua from this area until the season reopens.

This seasonal closure helps protect local pāua stocks and supports a sustainable fishery for future generations.

Taking pāua during the closed season is an offence and can result in serious penalties, including fines and the forfeiture of fishing gear.

Thank you to everyone doing their part by following the rules and helping protect this valuable fishery.

If you see any suspicious or illegal fishing activity, please report it to 0800 4 POACHER (0800 476 224).

Know the rules. Fish responsibly. Help protect our pāua for the future.

** Kaikōura pāua reminder **The pāua recreational fishing season in Kaikōura, from Marfells Beach to the Conway River, c...
27/08/2026

** Kaikōura pāua reminder **

The pāua recreational fishing season in Kaikōura, from Marfells Beach to the Conway River, closes on 31 August.

From 1 September it will be illegal to take pāua from this area until the season reopens.

This seasonal closure helps protect local pāua stocks and supports a sustainable fishery for future generations.

Taking pāua during the closed season is an offence and can result in serious penalties, including fines and the forfeiture of fishing gear.

Thank you to everyone doing their part by following the rules and helping protect this valuable fishery.

If you see any suspicious or illegal fishing activity, please report it to 0800 4 POACHER (0800 476 224).

Know the rules. Fish responsibly. Help protect our pāua for the future.

🐟 Marlborough Sounds blue cod closure 🐟 The annual Marlborough Sounds blue cod closed season begins on 1 September, and ...
26/08/2026

🐟 Marlborough Sounds blue cod closure 🐟

The annual Marlborough Sounds blue cod closed season begins on 1 September, and lasts until 10 January 2027 inclusive,

During this period, blue cod cannot be taken from the Marlborough Sounds area. Make sure you check the boundaries before heading out fishing.

The easiest way to stay up to date with fishing rules, closures and area-specific requirements is through the free NZ Fishing Rules App. https://bit.ly/37FZ3Hn

The updated information also includes guidance on sustainable fishing during the closure, including how to avoid targeting blue cod, along with answers to frequently asked questions. https://bit.ly/47HcMgx

Before you head out, check the rules for the area in which you are fishing. A quick check before you launch can save problems later. https://bit.ly/4gfXu4p

* Biotoxin alerts update *New Zealand Food Safety has removed the public health warning against collecting shellfish fro...
07/08/2026

* Biotoxin alerts update *

New Zealand Food Safety has removed the public health warning against collecting shellfish from Port Underwood in Marlborough.

The warning, issued on May 1, extended from Robin Hood Bay to Robertson Point and included the entire Port Underwood area.

Further sampling of shellfish from the area has shown toxins are now at safe levels. 🦐✅

Please note: The warning for Tennyson Inlet and Fitzroy Bay on the Banks Peninsula, issued on July 10, remains in place. ☠️

* Marlborough Sounds shellfish biotoxin warning *New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) is advising the public not to collect or...
09/07/2026

* Marlborough Sounds shellfish biotoxin warning *

New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) is advising the public not to collect or consume shellfish gathered from the Tennyson Inlet and Fitzroy Bay areas in the Marlborough Sounds due to the presence of toxins.

Routine tests on mussels from Canoe Bay have shown levels of paralytic shellfish toxin over the safe limit.

The warning extends from Tennyson Inlet to Fitzroy Bay.

Please do not gather and eat shellfish from this area because anyone doing so could get sick. Affected shellfish include bivalve shellfish such as mussels, oysters, tuatua, p**i, toheroa, cockles and scallops, as well as pūpū (cat’s eyes) and Cook’s turban.

It’s important to note that cooking does not remove the toxin, so shellfish from this area should not be eaten.

NZFS is monitoring an algal bloom of Gymnodinium catenatum in this region. This type of algae produces a dangerous toxin and, when shellfish filter-feed, these toxins can accumulate in their gut and flesh. Generally, the more algae in the water, the more toxic the shellfish get.

Symptoms of paralytic shellfish poisoning usually appear within 10 minutes to 3 hours of eating and may include:
• numbness and a tingling (prickly feeling) around the mouth, face, hands, and feet
• difficulty swallowing or breathing
• dizziness and headache
• nausea and vomiting
• diarrhoea
• paralysis and respiratory failure and, in severe cases, death.

Pāua, crab and crayfish may still be eaten if the gut has been completely removed prior to cooking, as toxins accumulate in the gut. If the gut is not removed, its contents could contaminate the meat during the cooking process.

Kina and finfish are not affected by this public health warning, but we advise gutting the fish and discarding the liver before cooking.

If anyone becomes ill after eating shellfish from an area where a public health warning has been issued, phone Healthline for advice on 0800 61 11 16, or seek medical attention immediately. You are also advised to contact your nearest public health unit and keep any leftover shellfish in case it can be tested.

Commercially harvested shellfish – sold in shops and supermarkets or exported – is subject to strict water and flesh monitoring programmes by NZFS to ensure they are safe to eat.

* Seafood warning *Flooding in the Kaikōura region has led to ‘sea cast’ pāua on the beaches. We strongly advise these a...
08/07/2026

* Seafood warning *

Flooding in the Kaikōura region has led to ‘sea cast’ pāua on the beaches. We strongly advise these are not eaten, as they are likely to contain hazardous toxins, ranging from sewerage waste to chemicals from flooded farmlands.

People who gather the pāua nonetheless, should note that the normal daily limits apply.

*CONSULTATION* Have your say on sustainability settings for 22 fish stocks as part of Fisheries New Zealand’s twice-year...
02/07/2026

*CONSULTATION* Have your say on sustainability settings for 22 fish stocks as part of Fisheries New Zealand’s twice-yearly review to ensure the ongoing sustainability of New Zealand’s fisheries resources.

The proposals include options for catch limit increases and decreases across a range of inshore and deepwater species, including snapper, trevally, tarakihi, butterfish and ling.

Full details, including on how to make a submission, can be found at https://bit.ly/4vcZHUj

📅 Submissions close 5m on Friday, 24 July.

Please note that comments on this post to not count as submissions.

The Kaikōura Marine Area will be closed to all rock lobster fishing for three months from tomorrow, 1 July to 30 Septemb...
30/06/2026

The Kaikōura Marine Area will be closed to all rock lobster fishing for three months from tomorrow, 1 July to 30 September 2026.

The temporary closure prohibits recreational and commercial crayfishing between the Conway River and Waiau Toa/Clarence River, and Te Rūnanga is putting a traditional rāhui on customary take.

This temporary closure was requested by the Kaikōura Marine Guardians and Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura, to support the sustainability of the iconic fishery.

A scientific stock assessment is planned for the entire Kaikōura / Marlborough rock lobster fishery later this year which will be used to determine if catch settings for the wider fishery are appropriate, or if adjustments are needed.

The closure follows a public consultation on the closure by Fisheries New Zealand in April this year.

Our thanks and acknowledgement go to the Kaikōura Marine Guardians and Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura and everyone who made a submission, as well as local commercial fishers, charter fishing operators, and the Kaikōura Boating & Recreational Fishing Club for their proactive and positive contributions to the sustainability of Kaikoura rock lobster.

The closure will run in parallel with a range of voluntary measures being put in place by commercial fishers to reduce fishing pressure in the region.

New Zealand Food Safety has removed the public health warning against collecting shellfish on Banks Peninsula. Further s...
11/06/2026

New Zealand Food Safety has removed the public health warning against collecting shellfish on Banks Peninsula. Further sampling of shellfish along this coastline has showed that paralytic shellfish toxins are now at safe levels.

For the latest shellfish biotoxin alert info, visit: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/fishing-aquaculture/recreational-fishing/where-unsafe-to-collect-shellfish/shellfish-biotoxin-alerts

New Zealand Food Safety is advising the public not to collect or consume shellfish gathered from the northern side of Banks Peninsula due to the risk of paralytic shellfish toxins causing illness.

The warning extends from New Brighton to the northern side of Hickory Bay. As the weather changes, this bloom could spread wider.

Affected shellfish include bivalve shellfish such as mussels, oysters, tuatua, p**i, toheroa, cockles and scallops, as well as pūpū (cat’s eyes), Cook’s turban and kina (sea urchin).

It’s important to know that cooking the shellfish does not remove the toxin, so shellfish from this area should not be eaten.

A visible bloom at the head of Port Levy has extremely high numbers of paralytic shellfish toxin producing algae.

Symptoms of paralytic shellfish poisoning usually appear within 10 minutes to 3 hours of eating and may include:
• numbness and a tingling (prickly feeling) around the mouth, face, hands, and feet
• difficulty swallowing or breathing
• dizziness and headache
• nausea and vomiting
• diarrhoea
• paralysis and respiratory failure and, in severe cases, death.

Pāua, crab and crayfish may still be eaten if the gut has been completely removed prior to cooking, as toxins accumulate in the gut. If the gut is not removed, its contents could contaminate the meat during the cooking process.

Finfish are not affected by this public health warning, but we advise gutting the fish and discarding the liver before cooking.

For more details, see https://www.mpi.govt.nz/news/media-releases/shellfish-biotoxin-warning-for-canterbury

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