Government to revamp over-quota fish charges

The Government is moving to overhaul how commercial fishers are charged for fish caught outside their quota, with changes aimed at better reflecting the actual value of fish depending on how it is landed.

Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones said the current deemed value system — which allows fishers to sell over-quota catch while paying a fee — does not work fairly for all operators. Under existing rules, deemed value rates are set uniformly across each fish stock, even though market values can vary significantly depending on whether fish are landed fresh or frozen.

Jones said feedback from industry consultation showed the one-size-fits-all approach was disadvantaging some of the most productive commercial fishers. Inshore species typically landed fresh by smaller coastal vessels attract premium prices, and deemed values are set accordingly. However, an increasing amount of inshore fish is now being taken as bycatch by deepwater freezer vessels, where long trips require fish to be frozen, sharply reducing its market value.

Despite this, those fishers are still charged deemed values based on higher fresh-market prices, creating what Jones described as a growing financial burden as inshore species expand their range. Proposed changes to be included in the Fisheries Act Amendment Bill would allow alternative deemed value rates to be set for inshore fish caught by deepwater freezer vessels, aligning charges more closely with actual sale values.

Jones also confirmed he has abandoned a proposal that would have allowed commercial fishers to land and sell marlin taken as bycatch, saying the benefits did not outweigh the concerns. Advice is still being sought on how other species should be treated.

The Fisheries Act Amendment Bill is expected to be introduced to Parliament in early 2026, with the public able to make submissions during the select committee process.

Image credit: Waldemar Brandt