Conservationists at odds with proposed commercial crayfish catch limit

Conservationists are at odds with Fisheries New Zealand over a proposal to increase the commercial crayfish catch limit in the Eastern North Island. Fisheries New Zealand's proposing to increase the commercial catch limit for the cray 2 area, including the Hauraki Gulf, Coromandel and Bay of Plenty, from 80 tonnes to either 90 or 100 tonnes. It said the crayfish population is now at a sustainable level following cuts to the catch limit in 2018. But surveys of the Hauraki Gulf and Coromandel found populations are still severely depleted, and its author believes Fisheries New Zealand have overestimated the species' recovery. Luka Forman has more.