Balance New Zealand believes that New Zealand’s oceans and fisheries are among the country’s most valuable natural resources. They support coastal communities, provide food and employment, and form an important part of the nation’s environmental heritage.
Effective fisheries management must balance environmental protection with the ability for people to continue fishing for food, cultural purposes, and economic livelihoods. Long-term sustainability requires strong rules, responsible harvesting, and protection of marine ecosystems.
This policy outlines Balance New Zealand’s approach to strengthening fisheries management, protecting marine habitats, and maintaining public confidence in how New Zealand’s fisheries are governed.
Balance New Zealand supports maintaining the existing quota system, fully respecting Treaty settlement obligations, strengthening monitoring and enforcement, and transitioning away from fishing practices that cause significant damage to seabed habitats.
Balance New Zealand’s fisheries policy is guided by several core principles.
First, sustainability must remain the foundation of fisheries management. Fish stocks must be maintained or rebuilt to levels that ensure long-term ecological health and allow future generations to benefit from New Zealand’s marine resources.
Second, Balance New Zealand recognises and fully respects the rights and interests established under the Treaty of Waitangi (Fisheries Claims) Settlement Act 1992, which affirmed Māori participation and ownership within the fisheries sector.
Third, the Quota Management System (QMS) remains the central framework for managing commercial fisheries. The system provides stability, accountability, and long-term sustainability when supported by strong monitoring and enforcement.
Finally, healthy fisheries depend on healthy marine environments. Protecting seabed habitats and marine biodiversity is essential for maintaining productive fish stocks.
Balance New Zealand supports retaining the existing Quota Management System, which has formed the backbone of New Zealand’s fisheries management for decades.
The system will continue to operate using Total Allowable Catch (TAC) and Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) limits determined by the best available scientific evidence.
Quota ownership structures, aggregation limits, and the system of Annual Catch Entitlement (ACE) will remain in place to ensure stability within the commercial sector.
Consistent with current law, customary and recreational fishing allowances will continue to be considered and allocated before commercial catch limits are set.
Maintaining this structure provides certainty for industry participants while ensuring sustainable management of fish stocks.
Balance New Zealand believes that strong monitoring and transparent reporting are essential for maintaining confidence in fisheries management.
All commercial fishing vessels operating in New Zealand waters will be required to operate under modern electronic monitoring systems. These measures will include onboard camera systems covering key operational areas, electronic catch reporting, and real-time vessel tracking.
Camera systems will monitor areas where fishing gear is retrieved, where fish are sorted, and where discarding may occur. Electronic reporting will be integrated with camera verification systems to improve accuracy and accountability.
Monitoring data will be subject to independent auditing and protected by clear privacy safeguards. Access will be provided to regulators and, where appropriate, relevant authorities responsible for fisheries governance.
These measures will strengthen oversight while ensuring that fishing activities are conducted responsibly.
To strengthen regulatory oversight, Balance New Zealand will establish an independent fisheries compliance authority responsible for monitoring adherence to fisheries regulations.
This body will operate independently of industry influence and will have the authority to conduct investigations, carry out audits, and pursue enforcement action when breaches occur.
The authority will also be empowered to recommend sanctions such as quota suspensions, fines, or prosecutions where serious violations take place.
Establishing a dedicated compliance body will improve transparency and strengthen the integrity of fisheries management.
Balance New Zealand believes that penalties for fisheries breaches must be meaningful and proportionate to the harm caused.
For commercial operators, penalties will increase in severity depending on the seriousness of the breach and whether previous offences have occurred. Significant breaches may result in financial penalties linked to the value of the catch, quota forfeiture, vessel seizure, or temporary or permanent fishing bans.
Where deliberate environmental harm or intentional misreporting occurs, criminal prosecution may be pursued, and company directors or responsible officers may be held personally accountable.
Recreational fishing offences will also face stronger enforcement. Increased penalties may apply for exceeding catch limits, using illegal fishing methods, or targeting protected species. Serious or repeat offences may lead to confiscation of equipment or temporary restrictions on fishing activity.
These measures aim to ensure that the consequences of breaking fisheries rules outweigh any potential financial benefit.
Balance New Zealand recognises that some fishing methods can cause significant damage to marine ecosystems, particularly seabed habitats.
The party supports a gradual transition away from bottom-contact fishing methods such as bottom trawling and dredging, where these practices cause irreversible environmental harm.
This transition will occur in stages.
The first stage will focus on immediately protecting sensitive habitats, marine reserves, and known spawning or nursery areas from bottom-contact fishing methods.
The second stage will progressively reduce the areas where these fishing methods are permitted over a defined transition period. During this time, the industry will be encouraged to adopt less destructive fishing technologies and practices.
The final stage will aim to remove bottom-contact fishing methods from New Zealand waters, except in cases where limited use may be justified for scientific or environmental restoration purposes.
Balance New Zealand recognises that these changes will affect some fishing operators. Transitional assistance and investment in alternative fishing methods will be provided to help the industry adapt.
Maintaining public trust in fisheries management requires clear reporting and open access to information.
Balance New Zealand will ensure that regular public reports are released covering the health of fish stocks, compliance outcomes, habitat protection efforts, and enforcement actions.
Non-commercially sensitive fisheries data will be made accessible to the public wherever possible.
In addition, fisheries policy will undergo an independent review every five years to ensure that environmental, economic, and social objectives are being met.
Balance New Zealand believes that New Zealand can remain a global leader in responsible fisheries management.
By protecting marine ecosystems, strengthening monitoring and enforcement, respecting Treaty obligations, and supporting sustainable fishing practices, New Zealand can ensure its oceans remain productive and healthy for generations to come.
This policy builds on the strengths of the existing system while introducing practical reforms to improve transparency, accountability, and environmental protection.
Through balanced and responsible management, Balance New Zealand aims to secure the long-term future of the nation’s fisheries and coastal communities.
