Investing in fishing quota

About this consent

Fishing quota includes:

• quota shares
• annual catch entitlement
• provisional catch history.

Who needs consent

If you are an overseas person, you must apply for consent to invest in fishing quota in New Zealand.

Overseas person

Assessment criteria

For a consent for fishing quota to be granted:

• you will need to meet the investor test
• you will need to meet the benefit to New Zealand test
• the interest in fishing quota must be capable of being registered in the Quota Register or the Annual Catch Entitlement Register.

Your application may be subject to a national interest assessment.

Investor test
Benefit to New Zealand test

Applications that include a significant business asset

If your application includes a significant business asset, you will need to provide tax information when you apply. We will pass this information directly to Inland Revenue without viewing it. Note that we will not start to assess your application until we receive confirmation from Inland Revenue that information is complete.

Tax information

Fee

Find information on the OIO fees framework and the fee for a fishing quota application.

OIO fees and penalties

Apply

Find information and resources to help you apply for consent online.  We recommend you contact us if you plan to apply for consent to acquire fishing quota.

Apply
Contact the Overseas Investment team
Tips for speeding up our application process

Legislation

Fishing quota terms are defined in section 2 of the Fisheries Act 1996.

Ministers determine if the investment will benefit New Zealand under section 57H of the Fisheries Act 1996.

Consent may be declined if contrary to the national interest under section 20C of the Overseas Investment Act 2005.