New Zealand Napier Extends Fishing Ban, Whangaparāoa Seeks Seafood Harvesting Moratorium

Officials in Napier, New Zealand, have extended a fishing ban at an artificial reef until August 2027 to allow marine wildlife populations to grow, part of a community-led effort to restore species like rock lobster and blue cod. The artificial reef, created in 2021 with boulders as part of a wharf project, is complemented by plans to sink a decommissioned trawler nearby to serve as a second reef. Meanwhile, in Auckland's Army Bay, residents and the local iwi Ngāti Manuhiri are calling for a ban on seafood harvesting due to severe depletion caused by poaching, with suggestions for a temporary rāhui or legal ban to enable recovery. Locals report mass stripping of rock pools by groups using tools to remove shellfish and seaweed, severely damaging the once abundant marine life. In contrast, seasonal fishing bans in the South China Sea were recently lifted, leading to abundant fish catches being unloaded at ports in Hainan Province. These cases highlight differing approaches and challenges in managing marine conservation and fishing practices across regions.