Review of sustainability measures – October 2022 round

Hoki

HOK 1 - All of New Zealand (excludes Kermadec)

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The 2022 HOK 1 stock assessment estimated the western stock to be below the management target range (35-50% B₀). Fisheries New Zealand is proposing an option to decrease the Total Allowable Catch (TAC), Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) and western stock catch limit of HOK 1 to move the western stock back within the target management range in a shorter timeframe.

Scampi

SCI 1 - East Coast of Auckland and Northland, Bay of Plenty

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An updated Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) analysis indicates that scampi abundance in SCI 1 has increased since 2019, and in its last accepted assessment, the stock was estimated as very likely to be above management target. Fisheries New Zealand is proposing options to increase the TAC and TACC for SCI 1 to provide for greater utilisation.

Gemfish

SKI 3 & 7 - Entire South Island, Chatham Rise, West Coast off Taranaki and Wellington

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CPUE analyses have suggested an increase in biomass of SKI 3 and SKI 7 in recent years. The TACs and TACCs of both stocks were increased in 2019 and in 2021. Since those increases were implemented, landings have continued to increase, and the best available information indicates that biomass is likely to continue to increase. Fisheries New Zealand is proposing options to increase the TACs and TACCs of SKI 3 and SKI 7 to enable greater utilisation of the stocks.

Rough and smooth skates

RSK 8 & SSK 8
West Coast North Island

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Catches of RSK 8 have been consistently above the TACC since the stock’s introduction to the QMS in 2003. Catches for SSK 8 have exceeded the TACC since 2007/08 and have been particularly high in the past five years. These trends in catches could suggest that there is an opportunity to provide for increased utilisation and that the current TACCs may no longer be appropriate. Fisheries New Zealand is proposing options to increase the TACs, TACCs and deemed values for both RSK 8 and SSK 8 to align with recent trends in the fisheries and provide for greater utilisation.

Blue warehou

WAR 2 & WAR 8

Taranaki, Wellington, East Cape, Hawke’s Bay

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Commercial landings WAR 2 and WAR 8 have been trending downwards over the past decade and in the last fishing year, WAR 2 and WAR 8 landings were <10% and 30% of the TACC, respectively. While current catch levels are unlikely to pose sustainability risks, there is uncertainty as to whether catches would be sustainable if the TACCs were fully utilised. Fisheries New Zealand is proposing options to set the TACs and allowances for WAR 2 and WAR 8 and decrease the TACC to ensure catches remain sustainable in the future.

West Coast South Island multi-species

(snapper, red gurnard and rig)

SNA 7, GUR 7 & SPO 7
West Coast and Top of South Island

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Recent stock assessments and other information suggests that there is an opportunity to provide for greater utilisation of SNA 7 and GUR 7. Rig is caught as associated bycatch in these fisheries, so an adjustment to management settings of SPO 7 may also be appropriate in line with changes to utilisation of those stocks. Fisheries New Zealand is proposing options to increase the TACs and TACCs of SNA 7 and GUR 7, and an option to adjust the TAC, allowances and TACC for SPO 7 in line with best available information on the fishery.

Blue cod

BCO 7 - West Coast and Top of South Island

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BCO 7 is an important domestic shared fishery. While recent surveys suggest the overall abundance of blue cod has remained fairly stable since 2017, the fishery is below the target biomass and all indicators point to fishing pressure reducing the size and abundance of blue cod in the main fishing area of the Marlborough Sounds.  Fisheries New Zealand is proposing options to set the TAC and allowances of BCO 7, and to decrease the TACC to reduce fishing pressure. Fisheries New Zealand is also seeking feedback on whether other measures, such as extending the closed season or voluntary approaches, would help recovery of the stock towards its management target.

Red gurnard

GUR 3

East Coast South Island, Chatham Rise, Southland, Sub-Antarctic, Rakiura and Fiordland

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Recent assessments for East Coast South Island trawl species indicate that the GUR 3 stock has continued to increase in abundance since the stock was last reviewed in October 2020 and there is an opportunity to provide for greater utilisation. Fisheries New Zealand is proposing options to increase the TAC, TACC, and allowances for GUR 3 to enable greater utilisation of the stock.

Rig

SPO 3

East Coast South Island, Chatham Rise, Southland, Sub-Antarctic, Rakiura and Fiordland

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Recent assessments and biomass estimates for rig in SPO 3 are variable and uncertain, however, they indicate biomass in SPO 3 could be increasing. Fisheries New Zealand is seeking feedback on whether there is an opportunity for a modest increase in the TAC and TACC of SPO 3.

Attached bladder kelp 

KBB 3G & 4G - East coast and Chatham Islands

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Bladder kelp has an important role in coastal and marine ecosystems and provides critical habitat for other important marine species. Information since these stocks were included in the QMS suggests the spatial extent of the kelp beds in KBB 3G and 4G has declined. Fisheries New Zealand is proposing options to lower the TACs and TACCs for KBB 3G and 4G to ensure that commercial harvests remain sustainable in the future.

Snapper

SNA 2 – East Cape, Hawke’s Bay, Wellington

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SNA 2 deemed value rates are much than rates for the adjacent SNA 8 stock and there are no sustainability concerns with this stock. A reduction in deemed value is being proposed to account for these factors.

Trevally

TRE 1 - East Coast of Northland, Auckland and Bay of Plenty

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Landed price for TRE 1 has more than doubled in the last five years while deemed value rates have remained unchanged. An adjustment to TRE 1 deemed value rates is being proposed to account for these factors.

Kingfish

KIN 3 – East Coast South Island, Southland and Sub-Antarctic

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Ongoing range expansion of kingfish means that the current deemed value rates for KIN 3 may not create appropriate incentives for fishers to land catch. As a result, an adjustment to the KIN 3 deemed value rate is proposed.

KIN 7 & KIN 8 -
All of West Coast

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Deemed value rates for KIN 7 and 8 are well above landed price and may not create appropriate incentives for fishers to land catch. An adjustment is being proposed to account for these factors.