The blue cod seasonal closure for the Marlborough Sounds area has started, with no blue cod take allowed until 11 January 2027.
“An annual closure has been in place for the fishery since 2011 and was extended in length last year,” says Emma Taylor, Director Fisheries Management at Fisheries New Zealand.
“It provides an important tool to reduce fishing pressure, which reaches its peak during the summer months, and supports the sustainability of the popular fishery.
“Fishing for other species in the Marlborough Sounds remains open during the blue cod closure, so it’s important that fishers follow best practice to ensure they are targeting other species and staying away from blue cod habitat. There are also best practice handling tips people can follow to give any accidentally caught blue cod the best chance of survival when returning them to the water.”
Fishers can also support an important piece of ongoing research by participating in a project on the survival rate of blue cod returned to the sea in the Marlborough Sounds area. Fishers report that the mortality of returned cod is very high and consequently these fish should have been next year’s fishery. This research, commissioned by Fisheries New Zealand and being conducted by Earth Sciences NZ, is being run from May 2026 to April 2027 to capture seasonal patterns in fishing activity.
While fishers should not target blue cod during the closed period, if you do inadvertently catch one, you can help with this research by recording details about the capture and release of the fish. This includes information such as fish length, capture depth, hook location, whether the fish was bleeding, whether it floated, swam away on release, or was eaten by a shag (or other predator).
This data can be recorded using the Citizen Science App (available on iOS or Android), or by getting paper forms at Marlborough fishing shops or Waikawa, Picton and Havelock boat ramps when staff are present, which will be most mornings on good weather fishing days.
“We also have a range of tips from experienced fishers around the country on how they are innovating to help improve the odds of blue cod surviving release, including how to avoid catching undersized fish, predation from seabirds, and reducing damage to fish from handling,” Ms Taylor says.
“These tips are valuable all year round, as surveys show that up to 70 percent of blue cod caught by private boats are released, and a high proportion of fish in the Marlborough Sounds are undersized.
“By following best practice, you’re doing your part to help ensure the survival of these fish so they can continue to contribute to the longer-term productivity of the fishery.”
The fishery will reopen on 11 January 2027.
