Review of sustainability measures for fisheries – October 2023 round

Gemfish

SKI 1 and SKI 2

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The best available information from a 2023 stock assessment suggests that the biomass of gemfish in SKI 1 and SKI 2 has increased considerably during recent years and will remain well above the target level for the next 9 years. The bycatch of gemfish from target fisheries such as hoki and tarakihi has also increased in line with increased abundance. The information suggests that SKI 1 and SKI 2 can support higher catches and that an increase in catch limits for gemfish would be very unlikely to cause the stock to decline below the target level in the short term. Consequently, a utilisation opportunity is available. An increase to the TAC for both stocks is considered an appropriate response and provides a utilisation benefit at a time of higher abundance of gemfish.

Review of sustainability measures for gemfish (SKI 1 & SKI 2) for 2023/24 [PDF, 1.1 MB]

Green-lipped mussel

GLM 9

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Wild-caught juvenile green-lipped mussels (mussel spat) are harvested from seaweed washed ashore on Te Oneroa a Tōhe/Ninety Mile Beach and are used in New Zealand’s mussel farming industry. The mussel spat collected in this area is estimated to account for at least 65% of the aquaculture industry’s spat requirements.

Following recommendations from a collaborative iwi and stakeholder GLM9 mussel spat working group, Parliament made the decision to change the GLM 9 fishing year from October to April. Fisheries New Zealand is now proposing options to set the TAC for GLM 9 under section 14 of the Act, for a 6-month transitional period between 1 October 2023 and 31 March 2024.

Following this 6-month transition period, we propose that the GLM 9 TAC, TACC, and allowances revert to the current full year settings from the 1 April 2024 fishing year. This approach is consistent with the Cabinet decisions made alongside the changing of the fishing year.  

Review of sustainability measures for green-lipped mussel (GLM 9) for the 2023/24 October-April fishing year transition period and for 2024/25 [PDF, 894 KB]

Kina

SUR 1A & SUR 1B

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Commercial catch limits for kina within these stocks have been fully or over-caught under the current settings. Information from fishers, scientists, and other stakeholders (including local area surveys) suggests kina abundance is high in many areas to the point where kina are having an impact on other species and the wider marine ecosystem. It is generally agreed by fishers, scientists, and other stakeholders that kina abundance has increased significantly since the mid-1900s with high densities of kina and associated urchin barrens in some areas.

In 2019, new digital technologies for electronic reporting (ER) and Geospatial Position Reporting (GPR), or GPS tracking, on all commercial fishing vessels were rolled out. The use of ER and GPR has resulted in timely fine scale information being provided on commercial kina catch and fishing effort. Based on these significant improvements to monitoring and reporting, as well as a better understanding of kina abundance, overall biomass, and the role of kina in the wider ecosystem, Fisheries New Zealand considers there may now be an opportunity to provide for increased utilisation, as part of an integrated package of management measures.

Review of sustainability measures for kina (SUR 1A & SUR 1B) for 2023/24 [PDF, 1.1 MB]

Red gurnard

GUR 3

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Red gurnard is a common species predominately caught in the inshore mixed species trawl fishery.

The first fully quantitative stock assessment for GUR 3 in 2022 determined GUR 3 is ‘virtually certain’ (>99%) to be at or above the management target and that overfishing is ‘very unlikely’ (<10%) to be occurring.

Underpinned by this assessment, and recognising a utilisation opportunity for GUR 3, Fisheries New Zealand is proposing to a modest increase to the TAC, TACC, and allowance for other sources of mortality caused by fishing, noting this is the fourth increase since 2018/19.

Review of sustainability measures for red gurnard (GUR 3) for 2023/24 [PDF, 1.6 MB]

Silver warehou

SWA 3

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The best available information from the May 2023 Fisheries Assessment Plenary indicates that the abundance of silver warehou in SWA 3 has remained at a high level for an extended period of time. Fisheries New Zealand considers there is a utilisation opportunity and proposes a modest increase to the TAC for SWA 3.

Review of sustainability measures for silver warehou (SWA 3) for 2023/24 [PDF, 709 KB]

Stargazer

STA 7

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STA 7 is caught mainly as bycatch in commercial bottom trawls targeting tarakihi, barracouta, ling, and red gurnard. Around 15% to 25% of total annual catch is caught as part of targeted fishing, which occurs mainly on the West Coast of the South Island.

The stock is assessed using biennial relative biomass estimates from West Coast South Island (WCSI) trawl surveys. The 2022 stock assessment indicated a significant decrease in biomass since 2019. Preliminary results from the 2023 WCSI trawl survey indicate biomass remains low for STA 7.

Fisheries New Zealand is proposing 2 options to reduce the TAC, TACC, and allowance for other sources of mortality caused by fishing for this stock, due to the sustainability concerns indicated by recent trawl survey and stock assessment results.

Review of sustainability measures for stargazer (STA 7) for 2023/24 [PDF, 761 KB]

Trevally

TRE 2

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Trevally is caught commercially as bycatch throughout TRE 2, with most of the catch taken in the mixed-species (red gurnard, snapper and tarakihi) bottom trawl fishery within the Hawkes Bay and Poverty Bay regions. Over the last decade, yearly commercial catch has averaged at 260 tonnes, 19 tonnes above the TACC of 241 tonnes. In the 2022, following the TRE 1 Bay of Plenty sub-stock assessment, the Inshore Science Working Group concluded that this sub-stock and TRE 2 can be considered the same stock. This review considers if the current allowances for TRE 2 are appropriate, align with actual levels of utilisation and if there is an opportunity for further utilisation.

Review of sustainability measures for trevally (TRE 2) for 2023/24 [PDF, 747 KB]

School shark

SCH 5

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Catch exceeded available ACE for the 2021/22 fishing year.

The fishery is rebuilding. There is an ongoing need to ensure appropriate incentives for fishers to remain within ACE holdings.

Current deemed value rates are lower than neighbouring SCH stocks.

Review of deemed value rates for selected stocks for 2023/24 [PDF, 1.2 MB]

Snapper

SNA 7

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An adjustment to SNA 7 deemed value rates will better align annual deemed value rates with SNA 7 ACE and port price. This would align rates with adjacent SNA 8 stock to reinforce incentives for fishers who fish across these stock boundaries to report accurately.

Snapper

SNA 8

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Catch exceeded available ACE for the 2021/22 fishing year.

A small upward adjustment to tighten SNA 8 deemed value rates will help to support continued abundance of the stock, through ensuring appropriate incentives for fishers to remain within ACE holdings. It will also better align annual deemed value rate with port price (SNA 8 port price increased by around 10% in the last fishing year).