The 2021 whitebaiting season in New Zealand is about to kick off with new regulations in place to help ensure a healthy future for the country's fishery.

 

"The new regulations herald a more equitable fishery, easing the pressure on whitebait species while providing better alignment and consistency of fishing rules across the country," Conservation Minister Kiri Allan said in a statement on Friday.

 

The whitebaiting season opens on Aug. 15, with the exception of the West Coast, where it opens on Sept. 1.

 

Whitebait are treasures and a valuable part of New Zealand's indigenous biodiversity. Once plentiful, four of the six species are now threatened or at risk of extinction, Allan said.

 

"No one wants to see whitebait disappear; they are part and parcel of our food heritage, with at least one annual festival celebrating the treasured delicacies," she said.

 

The new regulations, announced in June, followed two years of public engagement and will be rolled out over three whitebaiting seasons, making it easier for whitebaiters to adjust, Allan said.

 

"While they are an important step towards a sustainable fishery, where whitebait survive and thrive, they are only part of the process to ensure the future of whitebait species," she said.

 

During this season, the Ministry of Conservation will gather more evidence about the state of the fishery, including further monitoring and scientific assessment, with the aim to continue improving whitebait management over the long term, the minister said.