15 November, 2009
A comprehensive international fisheries science assessment has rated New Zealand the world's top performing country for managing its marine and fishery resources, Fisheries Minister Phil Heatley announced today.
Read full release >>14 November, 2009
Fisheries Minister Phil Heatley today announced a new convention text had been agreed which will create a regional fisheries management organisation to manage non-highly-migratory fisheries in the high seas.
Read full release >>10 November, 2009
Work toward lifting the ban on blue cod fishing in the Marlborough Sounds is progressing well, but the fishery will remain closed this summer, Fisheries Minister Phil Heatley announced today.
Read full release >>5 November, 2009
Fisheries Minister Phil Heatley today announced a final, intensive round of consultation prior to the drafting of new legislation that would allow the country's aquaculture sector to begin growing.
Read full release >>20 October, 2009
Fisheries Minister Phil Heatley has today welcomed final approval from the Ministry of Fisheries for the 1783 hectare Wilson's Bay Interim Aquaculture Management Area in the Firth of Thames.
Read full release >>29 September, 2009
Fisheries Minister Phil Heatley has today announced that the legal commercial hoki catch will be increased by 20,000 tonnes. It is estimated the increase will bring in over $29 million in extra export earnings for the country.
Read full release >>15 September, 2009
Fisheries Minister Phil Heatley today released Fisheries 2030, a goal and plan of action for future management of the country’s fisheries.
Read full release >>10 September, 2009
Fisheries Minister Phil Heatley today announced a new move to close the net around greedy paua poachers.
Read full release >>9 September, 2009
New, more flexible regulations coming into place on 1 October will allow the government to quickly put in place and refine mandatory measures for fishing vessels to avoid accidentally catching seabirds, Fisheries Minister Phil Heatley announced today.
Read full release >>8 September, 2009
Fisheries Minister Hon Phil Heatley has today announced the introduction of electronic catch reporting, a move that will bring an important part of the fisheries process into the modern day and save all parties considerable time and money.
Read full release >>1 September, 2009
New fishing rules that come into affect on 1 October bring good news for recreational fishers nationwide, says Minister of Fisheries Phil Heatley.
Read full release >>28 August, 2009
Fisheries Minister Phil Heatley is calling on scallop fishers to follow the rules when they go fishing in Auckland.
Read full release >>31 July, 2009
Scientists have rated New Zealand one of the two healthiest fisheries on the planet, Fisheries Minister Phil Heatley announced today.
Read full release >>30 July, 2009
Fisheries Minister Phil Heatley has given paua stocks a helping hand by releasing hundreds of farm-bred baby paua into the water at Stirling Point near Bluff this morning.
Read full release >>29 July, 2009
Fisheries Minister Phil Heatley and Environment Minister Nick Smith today announced the appointment of the Aquaculture Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to provide expert input to the aquaculture reform process.
Read full release >>15 July, 2009
Fisheries Minister Phil Heatley is calling on scallop fishers to follow the rules when they go fishing in the Marlborough Sounds and Tasman and Golden Bays.
Read full release >>9 June, 2009
The new television documentary Expedition Antarctica gives the world an armchair view of New Zealand's largest ever Antarctic marine research programme, says Minister of Fisheries Phil Heatley.
Read full release >>8 June, 2009
"The recovery in our valuable hoki stocks is great news for everyone involved in this important fishery," Fisheries Minister Phil Heatley said today, following the release of the latest Ministry of Fisheries research into the hoki population.
Read full release >>28 May, 2009
“The Supreme Court’s ruling out today on the management of the kahawai fishery is an important decision that will be carefully considered by all the parties involved,” says Fisheries Minister Phil Heatley.
Read full release >>28 May, 2009
New Budget funding will help the aquaculture industry grow, put more fisheries officers on New Zealand beaches and help improve recreational fisheries management.
Read full release >>22 May, 2009
The Minister of Fisheries, Phil Heatley, has good news for southern oyster fishermen and the country’s many Bluff oyster fans on the eve of the 18th annual Bluff Oyster Festival: the health of the Foveaux Strait oyster beds is improving.
Read full release >>15 May, 2009
Fisheries Minister Phil Heatley leaves on Sunday for an important meeting with Fisheries Ministers and Government representatives from 16 countries around the Pacific, to be held in Niue on 18 and 19 May.
Read full release >>6 May, 2009
The Crown signed a Deed of Settlement with iwi of the South Island and the Hauraki for an early cash settlement of obligations under the Maori Aquaculture Settlement in a ceremony at the Te Papa Marae, Fisheries Minister Hon Phil Heatley announced today.
Read full release >>6 May, 2009
More fisheries carrying the Marine Stewardship Council's "blue tick" eco-label will be further endorsement of New Zealand's careful fisheries management, Minister of Fisheries Phil Heatley said today.
Read full release >>28 March, 2009
Fisheries Minister Phil Heatley has used an address to recreational fishers in Waikawa, Marlborough, to announce the formation of a Blue Cod Management Group, whose work he trusts will see the four year ban on fishing for blue cod in the Marlborough Sounds lifted sooner than its scheduled expiry of October 2012.
Read full release >>26 March, 2009
The Government is to investigate finfish and oyster farming opportunities in Northland in a bid to grow New Zealand's aquaculture industry, Minister for the Environment Nick Smith and Minister of Fisheries Phil Heatley announced today.
Read full release >>18 March, 2009
The Minister of Fisheries, Phil Heatley, has announced the next stage of Fisheries 2030, a review to establish clear direction and actions necessary to unlock the future economic potential of New Zealand's fishing sector.
Read full release >>3 March, 2009
Fisheries Minister Phil Heatley has announced changes to the catch limits of four rock lobster stocks today.
Read full release >>18 December, 2008
Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith and Fisheries Minister Phil Heatley have welcomed the decision to allocate more space for aquaculture but have expressed disappointment that it took so long.
Read full release >>12 December, 2008
Holding for Fisheries BIM
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