OBSERVER COVERAGE SUMMARY
- In the deepwater fleet, coverage by observers has averaged around 30% for the past 12 years and risen to 36% for the past 3 fishing years.
- Over 50% of the catch by the deepwater fleet was observed by a fisheries observer in 2023–24.
- Decrease in observer coverage in the inshore and highly migratory fleets since 2022–23 as vessels transition to on-board cameras.
When we use fisheries observers
Observers are placed on commercial fishing vessels across the different fishing fleets and monitor a variety of fishing methods.
Observers are more likely to be placed on vessels where there is a higher chance of interactions with protected species. For example, observer coverage is much higher in the Southern Squid Trawl Fishery (SQU6T), in line with Operational Plan to Manage the Incidental Capture of New Zealand Sea Lions.
Measuring the amount of fisheries observer coverage
We are often asked what percentage of the fishing that takes place in New Zealand waters is also independently verified by a fisheries observer.
Understanding the amount of observer coverage in a fishery is fundamental to analysing the impacts of fishing on fish stocks, protected species, and the marine environment.
Fisheries New Zealand separates the reporting for observer coverage across 3 different fleets:
The best way of measuring observer coverage across the different fleets is through measuring what is known as 'fishing effort'. This means there is a standard way of reporting, and we can compare observer coverage across different fishing fleets and fishing methods.
Coverage can also be calculated based on 'days' or 'trips' observed. Using a fishing effort-based metric is preferred, as it accounts for differences in fishing methods and provides a comparable measure of coverage across different fleets.
How we define fishing effort
To measure observer coverage, Fisheries New Zealand calculates the amount of fishing that takes place in 'units of fishing effort'.
One unit of fishing effort equals one of these events:
- one trawl event
- 1,000 hooks used by bottom long line vessels
- 100 hooks used by surface long line vessels
- 1 km of net used by set net vessels
- one purse seine event.
Using data from electronic reporting, Fisheries New Zealand can measure the total fishing effort that takes place across New Zealand waters.
When we compare this to the fishing effort that takes place when a fisheries observer is on-board, we can then measure the total percentage of observer coverage.
Observer coverage for the previous 12 fishing years
|
Fishing Year (Oct-Sep) |
Deepwater¹ |
HMS |
Inshore |
| 2012–13 | 30.5% | 15.80% | 0.50% |
| 2013–14 | 26.30% | 26.20% | 2.90% |
| 2014–15 | 24.60% | 25.00% | 3.00% |
| 2015–16 | 25.30% | 13.80% | 2.50% |
| 2016–17 | 27.60% | 16.50% | 6.40% |
| 2017–18 | 35.60% | 13.10% | 5.50% |
| 2018–19 | 28.80% | 9.50% | 3.90% |
| 2019–20 | 32.10% | 9.60% | 6.20% |
| 2020–21 | 24.40% | 11.20% | 5.50% |
| 2021–22 | 33.10% | 5.60% | 5.40% |
| 2022–23 | 36.20% | 3.20% | 2.20% |
| 2023–24 | 39.10% | 0.20% | 1.30% |
|
Observer coverage in 2021–22 and 2022–23 was affected by watchkeeping practices, particularly on vessels targeting highly migratory and inshore species. Failing to keep a proper watch is a breach of Maritime Rule Part 22. Maritime New Zealand has increased its regulatory focus to lift compliance with watchkeeping requirements. Fisheries New Zealand is placing observers where it can, reporting any watchkeeping issues to Maritime New Zealand, and boosting other monitoring methods where appropriate. Fisheries New Zealand’s rollout of the stage 2 on-board cameras program starting in the 2022–23 fishing year has seen cameras installed on 165 vessels, predominantly in the HMS and inshore sector. This has resulted in a substantial decrease in observer coverage in these sectors for that period. The complete rollout of cameras on up to 240 vessels is due to be completed mid-2025. ¹ Calculating observer coverage in the deepwater sector has been reassessed and revised in line with more accurate techniques for assigning fishing events targeting squid. This has resulted in reduced coverage rates in the deepwater sector of between 1% and 6% for the years presented. |
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Percentage of catch by fleet that was observed during the 2023–2024 fishing year
|
Fleet |
Percentage of all fish caught by the fleet that was observed |
|
Deepwater |
53.7% |
|
Highly migratory species |
23.8% |
|
Inshore |
6.1% |
Find out more
The role of fisheries observers and having an observer on your vessel
