Rock lobster allowances for commercial fishing have been slashed.
Rock lobster allowances for commercial fishing have been slashed.
The amount of rock lobster (crayfish) that commercial operators can take from the Hawke's Bay/Wellington and Gisborne fisheries has been slashed.
The overall total allowable catch in the Wellington and Hawkes Bay rock lobster fishery, called CRA4, would be cut from 592 to 484 tonnes.
The commercial catch limit hasbeen reduced by 108 tonnes, from 397 tonnes to 289 tonnes, while the allowance for customary Maori fishing has been maintained at 35 tonnes, as has the recreational allowance of 85 tonnes.
A recent scientific study of the CRA4 fishery identified that the fishery was below the agreed target level.
