Weekly Lockdown Update
We hope that you are all keeping safe and well as we settle into another week under lockdown.
We would like to reassure our clients that FishServe continues to operate. Our helpline is available on 04 460 9555 to assist with any queries or you can use our online contact form to get in touch.
The FishServe office remains closed, but our staff continue to work from home. While there has been little disruption to most of our services, last week’s update highlighted how our mail-handling procedures have been affected under lockdown. We have put in place a number of solutions to handle these disruptions in the meantime. If you would like to read more, please click here for last week’s lockdown update. Despite these disruptions, we continue to operate as normal.
As the 15th of April approaches, we would like to reassure you that our end-of-year balancing processes for the April 2019/2020 fishing year will run as normal. However, owing to a temporary rule change by the Government, commercial rock lobster fishers have been allowed a one-off carry forward of up to 10% of their rock lobster (CRA) ACE holdings as at the end of the fishing year (31st March 2020) or all uncaught CRA ACE, whichever is the lesser. This will be a one-off change and will revert in April 2021.
For those of you unfamiliar with the process, this week’s update will outline how it all works.
Underfishing ACE
The Minister of Fisheries announced on the 3rd of March 2020 a temporary rule change which will allow commercial rock lobster fishers a one-off carry forward of up to 10% of their ACE holdings as at the end of the fishing year (31st March 2020) or all uncaught ACE, whichever is the lesser. ACE that is carried forward is referred to as an underfishing allocation. To view the Minister's announcment, please see the Beehive website.
The following is one example of how the underfishing allocation will work:
For the 2019/20 fishing year on 1 April 2019 you own 5,000kgs of ACE. During that year you report catch of 1,000kgs. As you cannot catch the remaining 4,000kgs, you therefore still own 5,000kgs of ACE as at 15 April 2020 and your ACE balance for the 2019/20 fishing year is 4,000kgs.
Underfishing is calculated at either 10% of the amount of ACE owned as at the 15th of April 2020 or the amount underfished, whichever is the lesser.
In this example, you would be allocated 10% of the 5,000kgs = 500kgs. Your balance is 4,000kgs, which is greater than 10% of the 5,000kgs owned, therefore you would be automatically allocated 500kgs of underfishing ACE.
Therefore, if you are a rock lobster (CRA) ACE owner, no action is required on your part provided you have submitted all Monthly Harvest Returns (MHRs) to date. At midnight on the 15th of April 2020 the end-of-year balancing processes will run and any underfishing entitlements will be allocated to eligible stocks.
Please note that rock lobster (CRA) stocks that have been subject to a TACC Decrease will not be eligible for underfishing allocation entitlements. Therefore, no underfishing ACE will be allocated for CRA1 as there has been a TACC reduction.
TACC Variations
As of 1st April 2020, there has been a variation to the TACC for a number of stocks. For further information, please click here.
Stocks that have been subject to a TACC decrease will not be eligible for underfishing allocation entitlements.
DV Rate Changes
As of 1st April 2020, there has been a change to the interim deemed value rates for a number of stocks. For further information, please click here.
If you would like to view Deemed Value rates, please click here.
Mail-Handling
Per our previous update, all mail received by FishServe on or after Thursday the 26th of March will not be processed until lockdown restrictions have been lifted and the Government has deemed it safe to return to work. Likewise, no mail will be sent from FishServe until lockdown restrictions have been lifted.
The following applies to inbound mail:
- Completed forms can be scanned and emailed to registry@fishserve.co.nz rather than by mail. Scanned documents must be clear, legible and signed by the appropriate person(s).
- We will not be able to process payments submitted by cheque. Therefore, payments submitted by cheque may not be reflected on your latest statement/s.
The following applies to outbound mail:
- Statements and/or notifications sent by FishServe and received by mail will not be sent. Digital copies of statements and/or notifications are available on our website.
- Original copies of certain documents will not be sent. Instead, we can arrange to send you, or a nominated person, a PDF copy of those documents. Originals will be mailed when lockdown restrictions have been lifted and it has been deemed safe to return to work.
For further information, please click here to view last week’s lockdown update.
Additional Resources
FishServe – Weekly Lockdown Update, Week 1
Seafood New Zealand – Covid-19 Information
New Zealand Government - Unite Against Covid-19
Minister of Fisheries - Announcement on Further Relief Measures for Cray Exporters