Download FAR 2023/23 Catch-at-age data for southern bluefin tuna in the New Zealand longline fishery, 2019–2021

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.