Sustainable Seafood

New Zealand has one of the most advanced systems in the world for ensuring the sustainable utilisation and management of wild fisheries. 

Sustainable hoki fishery recognition (pdf format) 


The system (called the Quota Management System or QMS) is based on proportional harvest property rights allocated in perpetuity (called quota or ITQ) that may be purchased or sold subject to certain qualifications in respect of enterprise ownership and aggregate quota owned. An annual harvest right is generated from quota ownership based on the percentage of the Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC or sometimes called TAC). 

This amount of quota - in tonnes (Annual Catch Entitlement or ACE) is the amount that can be caught. Strict regimes are in place to ensure compliance with catch landing and reporting requirements to ensure that quota rights and responsibilities are protected. 

Scientific assessments are carried out on fish stocks annually or when required and the TACC and all quota is adjusted proportionally up and down depending on the state of the resource. 

Sanford commits totally to comply with the rules and regulations in respect to Fisheries and other relevant New Zealand Law. Sanford actively participates in the collection and analysis of data to ensure realistic and cost effective research programs are developed to underpin the sustainable utilization and management of New Zealand's marine resources. 

Sanford Quota Tables: 

Sanford Quota Ownership Table 2012 - issued 19 December 2012 

Sanford Quota Table 2009 – issued 16 December 2009 

Archived versions are available here.