Kahawai fishing decision out today

A long awaited decision regarding the fishing industry's challenge against a 2007 landmark High Court decision for the kahawai fish industry is to be delivered in the Appeal Court today.

While kahawai was the basis of the judicial review of the Fisheries Minister's mid-2000 management decisions, the Appeal Court decision is likely to have a bearing on the future management of all key New Zealand fisheries including snapper, kingfish, paua and crayfish.

In March last year High Court Justice Rhys Harrison ordered the Government to review the kahawai allowance made to recreational anglers in 2004 and 2005.

He found that government decisions on entry of the kahawai species to the quota management system in 2004 and 2005 were not done properly.

- NZPA