Key Points:

• Customary catch data is withheld from the public.
• Though reporting is legally required, Fisheries NZ (FNZ) says it cannot release this information.
• FNZ will not verify whether mandatory reporting is occurring, whether national totals are complete, or whether the data used in management decisions is accurate.
• This leaves a gap in fisheries management.
• All other sectors’ catch data is public—customary catch is the only exception.