Conservation Act 1987

Infringement offences - Infringement offences - Fisheries

51K: Possessing certain kinds of fish without approval

You could also call this:

"Having certain fish without permission is against the law"

You cannot have certain kinds of fish in your possession without approval. You need approval under section 26ZM(2) or (3) or 26ZQA(2) to have these fish. If you do not have this approval, you are breaking the law.

If you break this law, you commit an infringement offence. This means you have done something wrong and may get in trouble. You will know if you have broken the law if you have certain kinds of fish without the right approval.

The law calls these certain kinds of fish "restricted fish", which is defined in section 26ZQA(1). You can find out what "restricted fish" means by looking at this section. This will help you understand what fish you cannot have without approval.

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This page was last updated on 24 May 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS150524.

Topics:

Crime and justice > Criminal lawEnvironment and resources > Farming and fishing

51J: Buying or selling fish for purpose of sale contrary to Act, or

"Don't buy or sell fish caught in New Zealand if it breaks the rules"

51L: Using hazardous substances, etc, to take or destroy fish, or

"Don't use harmful things to catch or kill fish in freshwater"

Part 6AInfringement offences
Infringement offences: Fisheries

51KPossessing certain kinds of fish without approval

A person must not have in the person’s possession restricted fish, unless the person has approval to do so under section 26ZM(2) or (3) or 26ZQA(2).
A person who fails to comply with this section commits an infringement offence.
In this section, restricted fish has the meaning given in section 26ZQA(1).

Notes

Section 51K: inserted, on 21 December 2018, by section 13 of the Conservation (Infringement System) Act 2018 (2018 No 61).