Download FAR 2025/45 A rapid update of CPUE for the blue mackerel fishery in EMA 7 to 2024

Middleton, D.A.J. (2025). A rapid update of CPUE for the blue mackerel fishery in EMA 7 to 2024. New Zealand Fisheries Assessment Report 2025/45. 65 p.

Blue mackerel are mainly caught in commercial fisheries on the east and west coasts of the North Island.

In the Taranaki Bight, on the west coast of the North Island, and the northern west coast of the South Island (management area EMA 7), blue mackerel have principally been taken by the midwater trawl fishery that targets jack mackerels. Some catch is also taken by purse seining.

As part of its management within the Quota Management System, blue mackerel abundance in EMA 7 is monitored using catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) from the midwater trawl fishery. In this report, this information is given for 2003 to 2024, updating the previous assessment that ended in 2022.

In 2024, the EMA 7 stock abundance was assessed to be substantially above the target level as a result of large increases during 2022 to 2024. Observer data also indicated recent recruitment to the fishery.