Conservation Act 1987

Freshwater fisheries - Sports fisheries

26ZI: Taking sports fish without licence prohibited

You could also call this:

"You need a licence to catch sports fish in freshwater or you might get a fine."

If you want to take sports fish from freshwater, you must have a licence. You can get this licence under the Conservation Act 1987. If you take sports fish without a licence, you can get a fine of up to $5,000.

You also can't have sports fish in your possession if they were taken unlawfully. This means you must make sure the fish were caught by someone with a licence.

There is an exception for people who take sports fish for scientific investigation or data collection, but they need a permit or authority under the Conservation Act 1987. You can find more information about this by looking at the Conservation Act 1987.

If you want to establish, manage, or operate a fish hatchery for sports fish, you must follow the regulations made under the Conservation Act 1987. You can't establish, manage, or operate a fish farm for trout.

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This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM105796.


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Part 5BFreshwater fisheries
Sports fisheries

26ZITaking sports fish without licence prohibited

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

  2. takes sports fish from any freshwater at any time, unless that person is the holder of a licence issued under this Act authorising him or her to take such fish from such waters at such time; or
    1. has in his or her possession any sports fish taken from any freshwater, unless the fish have been taken lawfully.
      1. Nothing in subsection (1) shall apply to the taking of sports 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.

      2. Every person commits an offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding $5,000 who establishes, manages, or operates any fish hatchery for sports fish except pursuant to regulations made under this Act; but nothing in this subsection shall apply in relation to any hatchery for sports fish that is established or is being established at the commencement of this Part.

      3. No person shall establish, manage, or operate a fish farm for trout.

      Compare
      Notes
      • Section 26ZI: inserted, on , by section 17 of the Conservation Law Reform Act 1990 (1990 No 31).