Fisheries (Geospatial Position Reporting) Regulations 2017.

These Regulations, consisting of 13 sections and two Schedules, regulate the mandatory Geospatial Position Reporting in fishing activity. They update terminology used in the former Regulations and replace some requirements. In particular, these Regulations replace a requirement to use automated location communicators with a requirement to use geospatial position reporting devices. The new requirement applies to New Zealand fishing vessels, foreign licensed fishing vessels, registered fish carriers, other vessels used in commercial fishing, and land-based fishing operations. Under the former Regulations, only some fishing vessels were required to provide the Ministry for Primary Industries (the Ministry) with detailed position reporting. For example, vessels over 28 m long or vessels used in the orange roughy or scampi fisheries had to carry and use automated location communicators, but the requirement did not apply to many smaller vessels and did not apply at all to land-based commercial fisheries. The position of events will be recorded automatically and securely transmitted to an agreed standard. This information will provide verification of fishing activity location for all commercial fishers. These regulations also include provision for situations where equipment malfunctions.