Changes in blue cod populations off Canterbury and in the Marlborough Sounds has raised concerns about the impact of human stressors on these populations, but the relationship between most stressors and blue cod is unknown.

Information on blue cod abundance was matched with environmental data to understand the habitat characteristics important for blue cod adults and juveniles off three Canterbury sites; Banks Peninsula, Motunau, Kaikōura.

Changes in potential stressors to blue cod habitat were compared with blue cod population status over 20 years at the sites off Canterbury and in the Marlborough Sounds.

Blue cod were associated with areas where the seafloor is rough and complex (e.g., reef systems), where structural habitat was provided by plants and animals, and in areas with higher water clarity and lower temperature.

Blue cod population status was related to stressors from land use (e.g., coastal water quality), and increasing water temperatures in most locations, although the intensity of these stressors has varied substantially over time and among locations.

This information provides guidance on the scale and focus for future research and potential management opportunities to limit these stressors and ensure sustainability of the blue cod fishery.

This study used a model of individual eco-physiological response to environmental and climate factors to derive population level outcomes of fish stocks. These simulations were used to investigate how fisheries stock assessments are influenced by climate and bottom-up variability in production parameters. The assessments generally provided unbiased estimates of stock status even though there were annual and decadal fluctuations in all production-related parameters.

The Foveaux Strait oyster (OYU 5) stock assessment model was reviewed. Development of a disease sub-model to provide projections of future disease mortality will greatly improve assessments. B0 and stock reference points may be overestimated. Conceptual models of climatic, environmental, habitat, disease, and biological drivers of oyster production highlight several knowledge gaps. An understanding of disease processes and new time series data will underpin better stock projections.

This report investigated the spatial and temporal structure of arrow squid (Nototodarus sloanii and N. gouldi) in New Zealand. Five potential stocks were defined. Estimates of growth rate were consistent with previous estimates. Spatial-temporal standardised CPUE fortnightly indices were developed and could be predicted relatively well by environmental variables. Preliminary population models showed recruitment was well estimated but initial biomass was highly uncertain.

While effects of organic enrichment on inshore, soft-sediment communities are well studied, little is known about how finfish farm-derived impacts will manifest in open ocean environments. This report identifies key species that may be affected by open ocean aquaculture and describes physiological indicators that may provide insight into organism health. This is the first of several project objectives that work toward developing environmental health measures for use in offshore environments.

The Statement of Intent (SOI) sets out what the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) will do over the next five years to achieve its vision of Growing and Protecting New Zealand. SOI takes into account New Zealand’s dynamic trading environment and the Government’s goals of building a more productive and competitive economy, as well as delivering better public services.

This fact sheet provides a high-level overview of the New Zealand indigenous forestry management regime. It outlines MPI's role in setting harvest levels under the Forests Act 1949, and implementing a comprehensive monitoring and auditing regime to ensure sustainable harvest levels and minimal environmental impact on privately owned native forests.

Environmental effects of consented activities are best managed if a strategic direction for aquaculture in the Southland region is established prior to the commencement of resource consent applications for new aquaculture space is considered. The schedule of this project is designed to make the high level strategic direction available for the critical early stages of future aquaculture development in the Southland region.

Waikato Regional Council is currently developing a guidance document for the aquaculture industry and other stakeholders in its region. The document aims to provide clear information on environmental monitoring requirements for aquaculture consents, as well as a methodology for integrating consent and state of the environment monitoring.

Surveillance is published as the Ministry for Primary Industries’ authoritative source
of information on the ongoing biosecurity surveillance activity and the health status of
New Zealand’s animal and plant populations in both terrestrial and aquatic environments.
It reports information of interest both locally and internationally and complements
New Zealand’s international reporting.

We examined the influence of water quality at the time of juvenile settlement on subsequent adult flatfish abundance as indexed by commercial catches in the Manukau and Kaipara harbours. Generalised linear models including time-lagged water quality variables indicated an overall negative association between water clarity and flatfish catch, and overall positive association between total phosphorus and flatfish catch in both harbours, suggesting these variables may affect flatfish recruitment.

This project sought to understand and model the effects of environmental variability on the function of the marine ecosystems of the Subantarctic region of New Zealand and adjacent waters, focusing on key megafauna and fished species using this region. We found evidence for long-term changes in atmospheric/oceanic climate, with differential effects on productivity comparing regions, and with associated effects on the productivity and distribution of some of the study species.