Many of us in the underwater community are in some way involved or are affected by the impacts of fisheries and now's our chance to have our say.

Fisheries plans set the high-level direction and overarching framework for managing fisheries and there is the opportunity for greater participation, certainty, transparency and accountability for how fisheries are managed in New Zealand.

This Draft Plan sets out how Fisheries New Zealand intends to transform and improve the management of New Zealand’s inshore finfish fisheries.

Contribute your thoughts on the Draft Plan’s proposals to:

• Advance New Zealand towards ecosystem-based fisheries management,
• Provide for enhanced tangata whenua, stakeholder and community participation in fisheries management and planning,
• Improve our environmental performance, and
• Provide greater transparency, accountability and certainty for the sustainable use of our inshore fisheries.

The consultation documents and information on the process, can be found on the Fisheries New Zealand’s website

We all have a stake in the way our fisheries are manged and I encourage tangata whenua, stakeholders and members of the public to engage in the consultation process and put forward their views on the Draft Plan.

Consultation will close on Wednesday 12 February, 2020.