The fishing industry has got the pause it wanted to a system of electronic monitoring and reporting of fishing catches.

Fisheries Minister Stuart Nash has instructed Ministry for Primary Industries officials to look at options for slowing down the implementation of IEMRS (Integrated Electronic Monitoring and Reporting System) on commercial fishing vessels.

"I am aware that a range of issues have been raised so I have made this decision following advice from officials, and discussion with a number of stakeholders," says Nash.

Requirements covering the catch and position reporting for trawl vessels over 28m, in place since October 1, 2017, will continue.

Implementation for other vessels will be deferred while options for the remaining rollout are worked through.

All commercial fishers were going to be required to use Geospatial Position Reporting and e-logbooks by April 1, 2018, and cameras by October 1, 2018.

Those representing fishers who catch crabs and other species in small quantities had argued the system was a burden and the time frames were too tight.

Nash said fishing needed to be sustainably managed but systems needed to be robust and "in the interests of all stakeholders".

"This is an important initiative to get right, and we will not be following the hasty timetable set by the previous government."

- NZ Newswire