With New Zealand set to move to alert level 3, we would like to advise all clients that FishServe will continue to operate under the same conditions as under the alert level 4 lockdown. However, there will be a change to our mail-handling procedures under alert level 3.

Our staff will continue to work from home for the duration of alert level 3, and the FishServe office will remain closed. Our helpline will be available on 04 460 9555 to assist with any queries or you can use our online contact form to get in touch.

As we have highlighted in all previous updates, our mail-handling procedures were affected under the lockdown. This meant we were unable to process any mail received by FishServe on or after Thursday the 26^th of March. Likewise, we were unable to send any mail for the duration of the lockdown.

However, the move to alert level 3 means we will be able to assign one member of staff to clear the backlog of inbound and outbound mail. This staff member will be allowed limited access to the office, for the sole purpose of processing inbound and outbound mail. This process may take some time, and we kindly ask for your patience. 

In this week’s update, we will therefore outline some of the changes which will apply with the move to alert level 3.

Forms

Please continue to return completed forms to FishServe by scanning and emailing them to registry@fishserve.co.nz. Scanned documents must be clear, legible and signed by the appropriate person(s).

Completed forms sent by mail on or after the 26^th of March will be processed in due course, if we have not already done so.

Payments

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.

Payments submitted by cheque are subject to processes which we must adhere to, and these processes take time. Furthermore, many banks are operating at a reduced capacity, and are only opening on certain days of the week, for a limited number of hours. It will therefore not be possible to process these payments and submit them to the bank within such a severely narrow timeframe.

We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience that this may cause but will continue to review this measure.

Recent credit card payment receipts can be found in the Recent Activities section on your Dashboard, if applicable. Payment receipts are only issued for credit card payments.

Statements and Notifications 

Printed statements and notifications will be sent as we clear the backlog.  

Digital copies of statements and/or notifications are available on our website. Statements can be viewed under the Finance tab, but you must have Finance authorisation to view this tab. As previously outlined, payments submitted by cheque may not be reflected on your latest statement/s.

If you are having difficulty in viewing your statements and/or notifications, please phone the helpline for assistance or use our online contact form. We can arrange to send you digital copies of your statements and/or notifications in the meantime. 

If you receive your statements and/or notifications via email, these will be sent as normal.

Fishing Permits

If you applied for or renewed a Fishing Permit during lockdown and are waiting on an original copy of your permit, this will be sent as we clear the backlog.   

If in the meantime you are applying for a new Fishing Permit or renewing a Fishing Permit, immediate payment is required. Payment can be made by Direct Credit to the following account:

• 03-0049-00001709-03
• Please provide your client number as a reference.

We will be able to email a PDF copy of the Fishing Permit to you or a nominated person. You must notify your local compliance office that you are using a copy and that the original will be sent in the mail.

Vessel Registrations

If you applied for, amended or renewed a vessel registration during lockdown and are waiting on an original copy of the registration, this will be sent as we clear the backlog.

If in the meantime you have applied for, amended or renewed a vessel registration, we will be able to email a PDF copy of the Certificate of Vessel Registration to you or a nominated person. You must notify your local compliance office that you are using a copy and that the original will be sent in the mail.

Catch Effort & Sendbacks

Outstanding Catch Effort forms will be processed in due course, and any associated letters and/or notifications will be sent as we clear the backlog.

Catch Effort forms refer to the physical, paper forms submitted to FishServe before the industry-wide switchover to electronic reporting.

Additional Resources

FishServe – Weekly Lockdown Update, Week 1

FishServe – Weekly Lockdown Update, Week 2

FishServe – Weekly Lockdown Update, Week 3

FishServe – Weekly Lockdown Update, Week 4

Seafood New Zealand – Covid-19 Information

New Zealand Government - Unite Against Covid-19