Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has confirmed an indefinite closure of the intertidal zone to most recreational harvesting along Auckland's east and west coasts, Waiheke Island and the Coromandel. Unlike the election proposals announced the same day, these are confirmed rules and apply from 1 November 2026.
The closure covers the area from the mean high-water mark out to where the water is two metres deep. Within it, fishers can no longer take marine invertebrates such as cat's eyes, mussels, limpets, chitons and periwinkles.
Some species remain open under their own catch limits, including cockles, crabs, kina, octopus, oysters, pāua, pipi, rock lobster, scallops, sea cucumbers, prawns, squid and tuatua.
New daily limits also apply more widely, including for green-lipped mussels, crabs, octopus, prawns, sea cucumbers and squid, and a default limit of 10 per person for shellfish species without their own limit. Existing local closures continue.
The change follows a review prompted by community concern about rockpools being stripped. The minister described the problem as overharvesting by a small number of people, and said the rules will stay until revoked, with ongoing monitoring. Fishers are advised to check local rules before each trip.
