Conservation (Protection of Indigenous Freshwater Fish) Amendment Bill

1. Title

The title of this Act is the Conservation (Protection of Indigenous Freshwater Species) Amendment Act 2018.

2. Commencement

This Act comes into force on the day after the date on which it receives the Royal assent.

3. Principal Act

This Act amends the Conservation Act 1987 (the principal Act).

4. Section 2 amended (Interpretation)

In section 2, insert in the appropriate alphabetical order:

indigenous fish means any species of fish as defined under Schedule 5

5. New section 26ZLA inserted

After section 26ZL, insert:

26ZLA. Restrictions on fishing of indigenous freshwater fish

(1) Subject to this Act, every person commits an offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding $5,000 who---

(a) takes indigenous fish from any freshwater at any time, unless that person is the holder of a permit issued by the responsible Minister authorising them to take such fish from such waters at such time; or

(b) has in his or her possession any indigenous fish taken from any freshwater, unless the fish have been taken lawfully.

(2) Nothing in subsection (1) shall apply to the taking of indigenous fish for the purposes of scientific investigation or data collection, under a permit or authority under this Act, and in accordance with any conditions imposed by such permit or authority.

(3) The Governor-General may, by Order in Council made on the recommendation of the responsible Minister given after consultation with the Commissioner, amend Schedule 5 by inserting any item, or make any corrections due to changes in species names.

6. New Schedule 5 inserted

After Schedule 4, insert:

Schedule 5 Indigenous fish

Indigenous fish species that are threatened are---

Nationally critical

(1) Lowland longjaw galaxias (Galaxias cobitinis);

(2) Canterbury mudfish (Neochanna burrowsius);

(3) Lowland longjaw galaxias (Galaxias aff. cobitinis Waitaki");

(4) Clutha flathead galaxias (Galaxias "species D");

(5) Teviot flathead galaxias (Galaxias "Teviot");

Nationally endangered

(6) Central Otago roundhead galaxia (Galaxias anomalus);

(7) Eldon's galaxias (Galaxias eldoni);

(8) Dusky galaxias (Galaxias pullus);

(9) Alpine galaxias (Galaxias aff. paucispondylus "Manuherikia");

(10) Nevis galaxias (Galaxis "Nevis");

(11) Pomahaka galaxias (Galaxias "Pomahaka");

Nationally vulnerable

(12) Taieri flathead galaxias (Galaxius depressiceps);

(13) Gollum galaxias (Galaxias gollumoides);

(14) Bignose galaxias (Galaxias macronasus);

(15) Upland longjaw galaxias (Galaxias prognathus);

(16) Shortjaw kokopu (Galaxias postvectis);

(17) Lamprey (Geotria australis);

(18) Northland mudfish (Neochanna heleios);

(19) Alpine galaxias (Galaxias aff paucispondylus "Southland");

(20) Upland longjaw galaxias (Galaxias aff. prognathus "Waitaki");

(21) Northern flathead galaxias (Galaxias "northern").