New Zealand Closes Major Chatham Rise Fishing Grounds to Protect Orange Roughy Spawning Areas
New Zealand will close a substantial section of the East and South Chatham Rise fishery to safeguard critical orange roughy spawning grounds, a move aimed at supporting stock recovery and ensuring the long-term sustainability of one of the country’s most valuable deep-sea fisheries.
The decision, announced by Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones, follows earlier measures introduced last year that significantly reduced the commercial catch limit for orange roughy in response to concerns over declining fish stocks.
After further consultation with industry stakeholders, Jones confirmed that the fishery’s entire northwest spawning area will be closed during the peak orange roughy spawning season each year, from early June to mid-July. The seasonal closure covers key spawning habitats within the East and South Chatham Rise fishery, encompassing approximately 4,983 square kilometres of ocean territory.
According to Jones, recent stock assessments indicated that the fishery remains under pressure and requires careful management to rebuild populations and secure the future of the resource.
“It is important that orange roughy are given the chance to spawn and grow their population,” Jones said.
The minister emphasized that the Chatham Rise orange roughy fishery has long been a significant contributor to New Zealand’s commercial fishing sector, supporting employment, seafood exports, and regional economic development.
“The Chatham Rise orange roughy fishery has been valuable to our fishing industry for many years, supporting jobs and economic prosperity. Ensuring its sustainability means it will continue to benefit New Zealanders well into the future,” he said.
Jones acknowledged that the seasonal closure represents a major adjustment for fishing operators and described the measure as a difficult but necessary decision. The proposal underwent a consultation process involving industry representatives and other stakeholders before being finalized.
Despite the closure of the northwest spawning grounds during the spawning season, commercial fishing vessels will still be permitted to harvest orange roughy in other areas of the fishery during the restricted period. Fishing activities across the entire fishery will continue outside the annual seasonal closure window.
The management measure reflects New Zealand’s broader commitment to sustainable fisheries management, marine resource conservation, and the protection of vulnerable deep-sea fish populations while maintaining the long-term viability of the commercial seafood industry.
