Catch limits in mixed finfish fisheries will be set to account for those species that live or move together. Fixed term commercial permits will be conditioned by Output limits. Output limits will replace the existing quota limits for single species.
Output limits will be described as equivalents to account for mixed species catches. All catches will be accounted for against a gross biomass limit, and particular species will have attached transfer ratios to allow them to be counted as equivalents. For example, in the North Island’s northern waters the biomass limits would be Snapper equivalents (SNAE). The other species that live with and are caught in the same areas will have a conversion ratio to allow them to be defined as Snapper equivalents. It may be that 2 kg of Gurnard requires 1 kg of SNAE to be in balance. The ratio is a combination of economic value and ecological risk.