Download FAR 2026/25 Descriptive analysis of ling off the west coast South Island (LIN 7WC) up to 2025 and inputs for the 2026 stock assessment

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 characterisation of one of the five main ling stocks managed under the Quota Management System: the ling stock off the west coast of the South Island (LIN 7WC), up to and including December 2025.

Both the ling Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) and catches have been stable in most Quota Management Areas (QMAs) recently. Recent catches of ling in LIN 7 were close to the TACC.

Biological relationships were updated using the latest data available. Maturity has been variable in recent years.

The standardised catch per unit effort (CPUE) indices and the trawl survey biomass index all showed similar patterns from 2000, with a continued decline from 2012.