This report summarises the WCSI hake (HAK 7) fishery with spatial structure of the stock, biological parameters, and standardised catch per unit effort (CPUE). The CPUE indices were similar for the tow-by-tow data and the daily summary data and showed a similar trend to the Sub-Antarctic trawl surveys. In general, the CPUE indices had declined over the period of fishing but had levelled off in recent years as the total catch declined.

The present project provides an update to the pāua (Haliotis iris) stock assessment for quota management area (QMA) PAU 5D and tested control rules to aimed at rebuilding catch towards the Total Allowable Commercial Catch. The findings suggested that the stock has been rebuilding and is now as likely as not to be at the interim management target. The harvest control rule from 2016 was updated to include a lag year on increases and a maximum 5% limit on year-on-year increases.

The total species population size estimate of New Zealand sea lion/pakake/whakahao was updated using the available demographic and population size information up to 2022 (the 2021–22 breeding season). All analyses were conducted within a Bayesian estimation framework, and the posterior total population size estimate was approximately 10 000 individuals in 2022 (median: 10 151; 95% credible interval: 8702–12 082 individuals), slightly below the estimate for 2015 using the same method.

This report describes the results of the random-site potting survey for blue cod (Parapercis colias) off south Otago in March–April 2022. Estimates are provided for population abundance, size and age structure, sex ratio, total mortality (Z), and fishing mortality (F). The 2022 potting survey was the fourth in the south Otago time series, with previous surveys in 2010, 2013, and 2018. The 2010 survey was a dual random-site and fixed-site experimental survey in three of the six strata; and 2013 and 2018 were solely random-site surveys in all six strata.

Sampling plan for the Financial year 2023- 2024 for domestic foods. Range of foods are plant-based foods including root and tuber vegetables, pome fruits, small fruit and berries, fruiting vegetables-cucurbits and cereal grains. A total of 300 samples will be collected.

Log and roundwood removal statistics on an annual basis. Roundwood removals are an indicator of export and domestic processing levels.

The collection of long-term age data is a requirement for countries fishing for Southern Bluefin Tuna. This report describes the age estimation of otoliths collected from the New Zealand longline and recreational fishing sector between 2019 to 2021. A total of 238 otoliths were aged during this project. Age estimates ranged from 3–24 years and as in previous years there were few samples less than 4 years of age. No modal progression of age classes was observed with the age composition data.

This report describes results from the random-site blue cod potting survey off north Otago in January 2022. Estimates are provided for population relative abundance, size and age structure, sex ratio, total mortality (Z), and fishing mortality (F). This was the third survey in the random-site survey time series with previous surveys in 2013 and 2018. In addition, 4 random sites were sampled in the proposed marine reserve (Te Umu Koau, D1) that, in part, overlaps with the main survey strata.

We examined the influence of water quality at the time of juvenile settlement on subsequent adult flatfish abundance as indexed by commercial catches in the Manukau and Kaipara harbours. Generalised linear models including time-lagged water quality variables indicated an overall negative association between water clarity and flatfish catch, and overall positive association between total phosphorus and flatfish catch in both harbours, suggesting these variables may affect flatfish recruitment.

The study summarised diets of top predators in New Zealand waters and estimated the spatial-temporal distribution of many of their prey species caught in inshore fisheries. These were consistent with previous estimates and with existing information and could be used as inputs in other processes such as spatial risk assessment models. Care should be taken for species such as squid or hoki where only the shallow part of their range was included and species groups such as jack mackerel or rattail.

This project developed a food-web model to explore the potential ecosystem effects of changes to small and medium-sized pelagic fish (including jack mackerels, anchovy, pilchards, sprat, yelloweye mullet, blue mackerel, yellow-tailed scad/kōheru) in the Hauraki Gulf. We found that the response of the ecosystem to changes in the abundances of pelagic fishes depended strongly on the extent to which top predators (seabirds, whales/dolphins, fish) are flexible in their diets.

The sixth trawl survey off the west coast South Island (WCSI) was completed August 2021. Species monitored by the trawl survey include hake, ling, and a range of other species. Ling biomass declined to the lowest of the series, while hake increased. As well as supporting the stock assessments for hake and ling, the trawl survey provides information on a number of bycatch species. A total of 208 species or species groups were caught and 25 845 fish or squid of 64 different species were measured.

An updated risk assessment was conducted for 54 New Zealand marine mammals using a multi-species spatially explicit risk assessment. Goodness-of-fit assessments indicated reasonable performance to predict total number of captures for pinniped and delphinid species with >5 captures, but poor performance to predict the spatial location of those captures. Poor performance may be due to inappropriate structural model assumptions or to biological inputs. Results should be interpreted with caution.

This report describes the results of the blue cod (Parapercis colias) random-site potting survey carried out in Marlborough Sounds in October 2021. Estimates are provided for population abundance, size and age structure, sex ratio, total mortality (Z), and spawner biomass-per-recruit ratio. This is the third full random-site blue cod survey carried out in the Marlborough Sounds and the tenth survey overall, with nine fixed-site surveys carried out between 1995 and 2017.

This report describes the results of the blue cod (Parapercis colias) random-site potting survey carried out in Marlborough Sounds in October 2021. Estimates are provided for population abundance, size and age structure, sex ratio, total mortality (Z), and spawner biomass-per-recruit ratio. This is the third full random-site blue cod survey carried out in the Marlborough Sounds and the tenth survey overall, with nine fixed-site surveys carried out between 1995 and 2017.

Commercial purse seine landings of Trachurus novaezelandiae from the Bay of Plenty purse seine fishery were sampled from length and age throughout the 2019–20 and 2020–21 fishing years. Catch curve total mortality estimates derived from the resulting age distributions suggest that levels of fishing mortality were sustainable in the areas fished. Age-length and length-weight parameter estimates are also provided by this report; these should be used instead of existing estimates for this species.