Download FAR 2024/82 Descriptive analysis of ling in the Sub-Antarctic (LIN 5&6 and LIN 6B) up to 2023 and inputs for the 2024 stock assessment

Mormede, S.; Dunn, A.; Webber, D.N. (2024). Descriptive analysis of ling in the Sub-Antarctic (LIN 5&6 and LIN 6B) up to 2023 and inputs for the 2024 stock assessment. New Zealand Fisheries Assessment Report 2024/82. 94 p.

Ling (Genypterus blacodes) is an important commercial fish species in New Zealand middle depths waters and is caught mainly by bottom trawls, bottom longlines, and increasingly by potting.

This report summarises the 2024 characterisation of one of the five main ling stocks managed under the Quota Management System: Sub-Antarctic ling (LIN 5&6 and LIN 6B). The Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) in LIN 5&6 is generally caught whilst that in LIN 6B has not been caught since 2005.

The bottom longline standardised catch per unit effort (CPUE) was updated for LIN 5&6 and for LIN 6B. Spatio-temporal CPUE indices were also developed and were in general agreement with the non-spatially explicit CPUE indices.

Length-weight relationships, von Bertalanffy growth curves, and maturity curves were updated for LIN 5&6. The maturity ogive for LIN 5&6 indicated some level of inter-annual variability. Only von Bertalanffy growth curves were updated for LIN 6B due to the paucity of data.

Inputs to the 2024 stock assessment of Sub-Antarctic ling are summarised.