The estimated year class strength (YCS) of 1+ and 2+ snapper from a November 2020 (Hauraki Gulf) and February 2021 (Bay of Plenty) trawl survey were all well above the long-term average. Coefficients of variation (CV) for pre-recruit snapper were reasonable, except for 1+ snapper in the Bay of Plenty (CV = 38.5%). Surveys used a stratified two-phase design optimised for pre-recruit snapper. These surveys may also have potential to monitor abundance of recruit snapper and other inshore species.

This report presents available New Zealand commercial fishery catch-at-age data for hake (Merluccius australis) caught by trawl and ling (Genypterus blacodes) caught by trawl and longline, up to the 2019–20 fishing year, and bottom trawl survey catch-at-age data sets for both species up to the summer 2020-21.