Increasing the recreational daily catch limit for kina around the northeastern North Island and introducing a new special permit to remove kina will help tackle kina barrens.
Kina barrens are areas of rocky reefs where healthy kelp forests have been consumed by an overpopulation of kina and long-spined sea urchins, forming a barren space detrimental to other sea life.
“I’ve made addressing kina barrens a priority, and it’s clear from the feedback received on these measures that many New Zealanders share my concerns,” said Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones.
“My decision to increase the recreational daily catch limit for kina in the Auckland East Fisheries management area to 150 and approve a new special permit that will allow targeted removal of kina will enable communities to get involved in combatting this issue.”
The new recreational daily limit will come into effect on the 1st of August 2024, and the special permit has been made available for applications. The daily limit and special permit apply to long-spined sea urchins and kina.
“These measures won’t fix Kina barrens immediately or on their own, but they will give people more tools to tackle them in their rohe and greater ownership over the health of their coastline.”
The new recreational daily limit of 150 kina per fisher will apply along the North Island’s east coast, from North Cape in Northland to Cape Runaway in the Bay of Plenty, which is the Auckland East Fisheries management area.
The special permit allows people or organisations to harvest, cull, or move kina to help with habitat restoration or prevent kina barrens from developing.
Permits will go through an application process, including providing evidence of a current or potential kina barren in the area before approval. Special permits can be applied for in any part of New Zealand.
“This is not the end of the work I will do on kina barrens, and I have directed my officials to expand our scientific knowledge of the problem and investigate further options for dealing with it.
Jones also acknowledged everyone who provided feedback on these measures and those who discussed kina barrens in Northland. He was confident that together, they could tackle kina barrens and restore the coasts with healthy kelp forests that support biodiversity and thriving kaimoana.
