Five-year crayfish fishing ban announced for Northland's east coast

Friday 19 December 2025 · 3 outlets · 3 reports · updated Fri 19 Dec 2025, 2:09pm

In this story Shane Jones

A ban on commercial and recreational spiny rock lobster fishing will begin on 1 April 2026 along the upper east coast of the North Island. Fisheries Minister Shane Jones stated the measure aims to help stocks recover after numbers became critically low. The closure will last for at least five years, spanning from Pārengarenga Harbour to the Coromandel Peninsula.

How they headlined it

4h

9:58am1:41pm

1. RNZFri 19 Dec 2025, 9:58am

   Fishing for crayfish to be banned on Northland's east coast (opens in new tab)

2. NZ HeraldFri 19 Dec 2025, 1:41pm

   Govt orders 5-year crayfishing ban on North Island’s upper east coast (opens in new tab)

3. StuffFri 19 Dec 2025, 2:09pm

   Crayfish from most of Northland east coast off the menu for at least five years from April (opens in new tab)