A fully integrated stock assessment is presented for HOK 1 modelled with two stocks (western and eastern) and with fish residing in four regions. The western stock is estimated to be lower than the eastern stock, with biomass expected to be 25–43% B0 in 2027 under current catch levels for the western stock and 46–55% B0 for the eastern stock. A simpler model with one stock and one region estimated current biomass to be 37–45% B0 in 2022. Target range for hoki is 35–50% B0.

Characterisation and CPUE (catch-per-unit-effort) analysis for SCI 1 (Bay of Plenty) and SCI 2 (Hawke Bay-Wairarapa) scampi (Metanephrops challengeri). Scampi live in burrows and variability in emergence rates impact the relationship between CPUE and abundance. SCI 1 index increased from 2016 to 2021. SCI 2 CPUE generally declined from 2015 to 2021. The CPUE indices were accepted by the New Zealand Fisheries Deepwater Working Group as valid for tracking scampi biomass for use in the stock assessment.

A bottom trawl survey of the east coast South Island (ECSI) at 10–400 m depths was carried out using R.V. Kaharoa (trip code KAH2204) from 2 May to 23 June 2022. The core (30–400 m) survey was the fourteenth in the winter ECSI inshore time series (1991–1994, 1996, 2007–2009, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2021, and 2022). Four shallow strata (10–30 m) included in 2007, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2021 were again surveyed in 2022 to monitor elephantfish and red gurnard over their full depth range.

A commercial catch sampling design was developed for estimating the age-structure of hāpuku (Polyprion oxygeneios) from the New Zealand bottom longline fishery. Based on the minimum required number of otoliths, current catches, and market conditions, there may be potential for a catch sampling project in HPB 1, HPB 2, HPB 4, and HPB 5, but this would generally incur a high cost and require highly targeted sampling as well as a high degree of cooperation with fishers and licensed fish receivers.

This project provides population estimates for cockle Austrovenus stutchburyi and pipi Paphies australis at 12 sites in northern North Island for the 2022–23 fishing year. Also provided are sediment data for Aotea Harbour,Cockle Bay, Eastern Beach, Grahams Beach, Hokianga Harbour, Kawakawa Bay (West), Ōhiwa Harbour, Okoromai Bay, Otūmoetai (Tauranga Harbour), Pataua Estuary, Waiotahe Estuary, Whangamatā Harbour, and Whangapoua Harbour.

This report presents the spatial analysis of bottom-contacting effort by commercial trawl vessels and shellfish dredge vessels within the New Zealand Territorial Sea and 200 n. mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ+TS), in waters open to trawling down to 1600 m depths. Fishing years 1989–90 to 2020–21 are covered for deepwater trawl and shellfish dredge fisheries and 2007–08 to 2020–21 for inshore, and 1989–90 to 2020–21 for inshore and deepwater trawling combined.