A three-month ban on rock lobster fishing will take effect in the Kaikōura Marine Area from 1 July, covering both recreational and commercial catches.
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced the closure, which runs until 30 September 2026. The measure follows a request from Kaikōura Marine Guardians and Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura, who sought the ban because of worries about how many large rock lobster remain in local waters. Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura is placing a rāhui on customary take during the same period.
The closure is designed to minimise interference with egg-bearing females and give juvenile lobsters room to develop. "Stopping fishing for the pre-summer period will reduce disruption to female rock lobster carrying eggs, and allow smaller rock lobster to grow," Jones said. "This is about supporting the future of the fishery and improving fishing during the peak season."
Fisheries New Zealand consulted the public on the proposal in April 2026 and received strong backing. The agency will carry out a stock assessment of the Kaikōura fishery later this year, with catch limits for the broader fishery potentially subject to adjustment depending on what the assessment finds.