Dear Quota Management System,
Happy 40th birthday from all of us here at LegaSea. 🎂 🎈 We're sorry to say you have not aged well.
To celebrate this milestone, we're beginning a series all about you. Well, about your many failures. Bear with us over the next few weeks as we countdown the reasons why we think it's time for you to retire and be replaced with something more innovative.
Industry and officials often sing your praises, calling you "world-leading". In reality, you are far from it.
Ever since you were born, you've been trouble. Many of our coastal fisheries have declined or closed. You've done little to support small-scale local fishers and have continued to entrench the use of destructive, bulk-harvesting fishing methods. We hope the good ol' days when kahawai were thriving and local fishing families in their own boats supported their coastal communities, can return. Unfortunately, this can't happen as long as you're around. Here's to hopefully not many more years of you sticking around! Many unhappy returns,
LegaSea |
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What's up with our 'world-leading' Quota Management System? |
The Quota Management System (QMS) was introduced in 1986 to address fish depletion and overcapacity in the commercial fishing sector. That is, too many people chasing too few fish.
The solution was to gift commercial fishers quota, a tradeable share of each fish stock based on historical catches. The theory was that by giving away a long-term perpetual lease, it would breed stewardship. It didn't.
As predicted at the outset, corporate interests seized the opportunity to take control. Now, access to harvest fish is determined by private interests, not the Crown. Thousands of small-scale regional fishers have been pushed out.
A handful of entities now control more than 80% of all quota, and many who still fish must lease catching rights from quota owners who never go to sea. |
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Their lease costs are so high it incentivises low cost, bulk harvesting over less impactful fishing methods. Consequently, economic returns are prioritised over ecological sustainability, despite the Fisheries Act and multiple court decisions making it clear that the fish must come first. Forty years on, the so-called world-leading QMS has failed to do what it was primarily intended to do. It has failed the fish, the fishers, Māori and our coastal communities. Over the coming weeks, LegaSea will break down some of the top failures of the QMS, and offer viable alternatives leading up to the 7 November election.
Because this year you have the power to vote for abundance and meaningful reform of the management of our coastal fisheries. I Fish. I Care. I Vote. |
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Quick facts about the QMS |
🦀 What is quota?
Under the Quota Management System quota is a share in a fish stock. In every fish stock there are 100 million shares. Investors buy and sell these shares. Every year quota owners receive ACE, Annual Catch Entitlement for each quota share they hold. This is an entitlement to catch a specific amount of fish, in weight, during the fishing year. Quota holders can retain their quota shares, and lease or sell their ACE during the year.
The amount of ACE each quota owner receives is dependent on the Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) for that year. The Minister for Oceans and Fisheries decides the TACC for each fish stock. Every commercial fisher must have ACE to cover their catch. If a fisher cannot source enough ACE to cover their catch the fisher is charged a penalty fee. |
🦀 How many species are managed under the Quota Management System?
Over time, 98 species or species groups have been added to the QMS. For example, tarakihi was added to the QMS in 1986, kahawai in 2004. These are divided into 642 separate fish stocks i.e For snapper, there are six different snapper stocks across the country – SNA 1 (Northland, Hauraki Gulf, Bay of Plenty), SNA 2 (Hawkes Bay, East Cape). |
🦀 Why does LegaSea want political parties to investigate alternatives to the QMS?
The Quota Management System (QMS) has concentrated and privatised control of our fisheries to a handful of major quota owners. This has had a detrimental impact on our fish, the fishers, Māori and our coastal communities.
We need a system that removes private property rights, incentivises selective, low-impact fishing methods, and puts the health and abundance of our fisheries ahead of short-term profit. A world-leading management system ought to reward local fishers who land quality catch. It needs to restore the Crown's role in deciding who can fish, and give every New Zealander a fair go at accessing our shared kaimoana. That's why LegaSea is urging political parties to commit to investigating alternatives to the dysfunctional QMS. |
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Fisheries policies update |
In August, we sent out a list of 6 policy statements and asked political parties for their response. Last week, we published the first version of LegaSea's election scorecard. The scorecard reflects the responses received and where they stand in relation to our bottom lines. We have since received responses from the National Party, NZ Loyal, and independent MP Tākuta Ferris.
As more responses arrive, we will keep updating the table. We're here to give you the latest information so you can make an informed decision and back the party that best fits your needs and your vision for marine abundance. |
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Minister's Review decisions |
Photo by Bella Muir
Last week, Oceans and Fisheries Minister, Shane Jones, announced his decisions for commercial catch limit changes for 22 fish stocks nationwide. The decisions are a mixed bag.
In July, LegaSea, the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council, New Zealand Angling & Casting and New Zealand Underwater Associations jointly responded to 13 of the proposals. Our submissions aim to be the voice of reason. We stand for abundance - more fish in the water and a fair go for all New Zealanders. The Minister has a statutory duty to prioritise the long-term health of our fish and marine environment, so it's disappointing to see the Minister largely ignore our recommendations and side with industry when adjusting catch limits from 1 October 2026. Summary of the key decisions and our joint submissions.
Tarakihi (TAR 1, 2, 3, 7 & 8) - Nationwide
Joint submission: Supported daily bag limit of 5 per person if commercial catch limits were reduced by 78% or more, to bycatch-only levels.
Minister's decision: Daily bag limit reduced from 20 to 10. Commercial catch limit for east coast reduced by 20%, west coast reduced by 55%.
Butterfish (BUT 7) - West coast South Island
Joint submission: Supported recreational daily limit of 7 per person and a commercial catch limit reduction.
Minister's decision: New recreational daily limit of 5 per person. Commercial catch limit decreased to 14 tonnes.
Snapper and Trevally (SNA 2 & TRE 2) - East Cape to Wellington
Joint submission: Supported retaining current commercial catch limits.
Minister's decision: Commercial catch limit for SNA 2 increased by 64%, TRE 2 increased by 94%.
Elephant fish (ELE 3 & 5) - South Island east coast, Southland
Joint submission: Supported significant reductions to commercial catch limits.
Minister's decision: Commercial catch limit for ELE 3 decreased by 53%, ELE 5 decreased by 63%.
Pāua 5D - South Island east coast, Southland
Joint submission: Supported commercial catch limit reduction. Retain current recreational allowance.
Minister's decision: Proportional reduction to the commercial catch limit and recreational allowance.
Pāua 7 - Marlborough
Joint submission: Supported commercial catch limit reduction. Retain current recreational allowance.
Minister's decision: Proportional reduction to the commercial catch limit and recreational allowance.
Blue mackerel (EMA 7) - West coast North and South Island
Joint submission: Supported retaining current commercial catch limit. Minister's decision: A 1,005 tonne increase to the commercial catch limit.
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Much-lauded quota system blamed for industry's woes New Zealand's Quota Management System (QMS), long praised as a world-leading model for sustainable fisheries, is driving small-scale inshore fishers out of business and severely depleting coastal marine ecosystems, says a marine conservation group.
Andy Brew, The Press, September 2026 |
Scallop fishery: Groups urge Shane Jones to keep Whangārei Harbour closed
Recreational fishing groups say reopening Whangārei Harbour's scallop beds could undo four years of recovery efforts. The New Zealand Sport Fishing Council, LegaSea, New Zealand Angling and Casting Association and New Zealand Underwater Association lodged a joint 10-page submission in the Government's consultation, which closed last Friday. Sarah Curtis, NZ Herald, Spetember 2026 |
A real solution to depletion
Communities like Mahurangi continue to pay the price for decades of poorly managed fisheries. Right now, we're dealing with temporary closures to shellfish harvesting, bans on crayfish and scallop gathering, and smaller bag limits. These measures are only a band-aid solution. They don't solve the underlying problem of a failing fisheries management system driving the ongoing depletion of our coastal fisheries.
LegaSea, September 2026 |
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LegaSea is proudly supported by its Gold and Platinum partners: |
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