The recreational daily catch limit for kina around the northeastern North Island is being increased from 1 August 2024, to help address kina barrens.
The new daily limit will be 150 and applies from North Cape in Northland to Cape Runaway in the Bay of Plenty.
Kina barrens are areas of rocky reef where healthy kelp forests have been consumed by an overpopulation of kina and long-spined sea urchins to form a barren space that is detrimental to other sea life.
There is also a new special permit to allow people or organisations to harvest, cull, or move kina to help habitat restoration or to prevent these bare kina spots developing.
Both the daily limit and special permit apply to long-spined sea urchins as well as kina.
Permits will go through an application process which will include providing evidence of a current or potential kina barren in the area before it is approved. Special permits can be applied for in any part of New Zealand.
