Fisheries and aquaculture

Fisheries, and increasingly aquaculture, is a vital resource and a major contributor to New Zealand's economic growth. Issues that arise from fisheries and aquaculture can be broad - from specific fishing and resource management legal issues to commercial issues such as security and financing.  Our team can provide the specialist advice you need on all these issues.

We have considerable expertise on all aspects of fisheries legislation and aquaculture law.  Our lawyers advised the government on several reforms to the Fisheries Act and the recent significant changes to aquaculture law. We have acted for the Ministry of Fisheries and a range of fishing companies on fisheries issues.

We advise clients on the public law, resource management, commercial and litigation aspects of fisheries issues, including fisheries and aquaculture laws and their application (including rules relating to quota), permitting and registration of vessels, security and financing arrangements for fishing companies, litigation affecting fishing interests, Treaty of Waitangi issues as they relate to fisheries, and related resource management issues.

Paul Beverley, leader of our national resource management team, was appointed by the Ministers of Fisheries and of Conservation to chair the Subantarctic Marine Protection Planning Forum which made recommendations to the Ministers that led to three new marine reserves.