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.

This report provides a comprehensive overview of fishery data inputs for assessment of the risk of New Zealand commercial fisheries to New Zealand seabird populations. The risk assessment uses the Spatially Explicit Fisheries Risk Assessment (SEFRA) framework, which requires spatially resolved fishing effort and capture data. These data inputs were extracted from the Protected Species Capture database (version 6; up to and including the 2019/20 fishing year) and prepared for analysis.

This report details an implementation of the Spatially Explicit Fisheries Risk Assessment (SEFRA) framework to seabirds in the New Zealand Exclusive Economic Zone, attempting to quantify the impact of New Zealand commercial fisheries on New Zealand populations of seventy-one seabird species. As part of the project both the biological and fishery input data have been updated, as well as the structure of the model itself.

The present project developed models and tested management options for PAU 3A as the pāua fishery rebuilds following the Kaikōura earthquake. The modelling focused on key uncertainties, including earthquake impacts and recovery, and the developments of recreational catch over time. Depending on the model-fitting strategy and earthquake impacts, tested commercial harvest strategies, combined with recreational harvest scenarios, led to relatively stable, or declining fisheries.

The 2016 Kaikoura earthquake had massive impacts on paua populations, resulting in the 4-year closure of the local paua fishery. Surveys were undertaken over the last five years to monitor paua population recovery. An increase in adult paua abundance and post-earthquake recruitment has been observed across the fishery. These findings and ongoing monitoring will be used to support decisions around future re-opening and management of the fishery.

As part of the development of spatially explicit fisheries risk assessment methodologies for chondrichthyans, spatial distribution modelling methodologies were tested on carpet shark, school shark, great white shark, and green turtle as well as on one simulated dataset. Eight recommendations were made for future distribution models including the need to model a year x space interaction as well as both the probability of presence and catch rate, and the usefulness of simulations.

Low-relief red-algae turf extends over about 40% of sandy seafloors of ‘Ipipiri Platform’ in eastern Bay of Islands, its spatial extent apparently steady over recent decades. In contrast, the extent of the subtidal seagrass (presently about 5%) has apparently varied substantially. Subtidal seagrass is rare today, and the algal-turf biome is undescribed elsewhere. These bottom-stabilising vegetative biomes are probably the long-term surficial ecological communities of recent geological times.

Land-based effects on coastal fisheries, kaimoana, and their habitats occur through a diversity of mechanisms. This literature review explores those mechanisms, and likely impacts in New Zealand, with arguably the most important being sedimentation. Background into concerns and interests held by selected iwi and hapū is provided. A potential new emerging issue is Submarine Groundwater Discharge rate reductions to coastal zones. Fundamental knowledge gaps remain, with research suggestions made.

This report summarises trends in the FLA 1 fishery and updates the standardised CPUE indices for flatfish caught in six set net fisheries between 1989–90 and 2020–21. Long-term declines in standardised CPUE are evident in the Manukau and Kaipara harbours. The Hauraki Gulf index shows an overall declining trend with periodic increases to 2017 and has been generally stable since. Variable trends are evident in the remaining three areas, although it is unclear if trends are indicative of abundance.

The present study assessed potential differences in reporting patterns of pāua fishing effort, following the recent change from Pāua Catch Effort Landing Return forms to an electronic reporting system. Effort data were analysed over a comparable three-year time period pre- and post-reporting change. The findings of this analysis indicate that changes in effort reporting had a limited impact on pāua catch-per-unit-effort indices across quota management areas.

In BPLE the standardised CPUE index increased from 1995/96 to 2000/01, then fluctuated without trend, and in 2020/21 was about twice the value in 1995/96. For ENHG the index had peaks in 2004/05 and 2015/16, and in 2020/21 was 81% of the value in 1995/96. For WCNI the standardised index increased in an irregular manner since 1995/96, and in 2020/21 was 27% more than at the start of the series.

New abundance indices for the northern gemfish stock in SKI 1 and SKI 2 have been developed. The main index for adult fish is based on catch-per-unit-effort from the gemfish and hoki target trawl fishery focused in the Bay of Plenty. A tarakihi-target index monitors juvenile fish. Following a period of high recruitment beginning in 2016, the northern stock has increased substantially and was assessed to be above the target reference point in 2021. Abundance has increased further in 2022.

Inshore trawl surveys off the west coast North Island using RV Kaharoa resumed in 2018 after nearly 20 years. Where inshore strata areas now overlap a commercial trawl exclusion zone as part of the Māui dolphin Threat Management Plan they are excluded from the new survey area. Historical survey data were analysed to assess the impact of these changes on the ability to monitor adult biomass of target species. The utility of the time series was reviewed for target and some non-target species.

Recent trends in the JDO 2 commercial fishery are summarised. Eastern JDO 2 is managed as a discrete stock unit. The standardised CPUE indices for inshore trawl fishery in eastern JDO 2 were updated to the 2021/22 fishing year. Since 2010/11–2011/12, the CPUE indices have increased towards the interim target biomass level and the most recent CPUE index (2021/22) was 76% of the interim target level.

In Bay of Plenty the standardised John dory CPUE index declined in an irregular manner from 1994/95 to 2020/21 to 51% of its initial level. For east Northland and Hauraki Gulf the index declined from 1994/95 to 2012/13 then increased to be at 43% of its initial level in 2020/21. For west coast North Island the standardised index has fluctuated without trend since 1994/95.

Recent trends in the BCO7 fishery are summarised with emphasis on the operation of the target potting fishery in the Marlborough Sounds. The small number of vessels in the fishery and the local scale operation of individual vessels meant that It was not feasible to develop CPUE indices for the fishery.