Best Fish Guide 2009-2010 - Forest and Bird

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Seafood assessment results The following pages detail the ecological assessments of each commercially caught New Zealand seafood species. (An index is presented at the front of this report.) To aid the reader, a quick reference to the key ecological concerns are illustrated with one of the following icons: Fish stock(s) increasing after period of substantial decline. Fish stock(s) over-fished or have substantially declined Fishery causes habitat damage Fishery has a seabird bycatch problem Fishery has a marine mammal bycatch problem Fishery has a non-target fish bycatch problem Fishery causes adverse ecological effects Forest & Bird Best Fish Guide 2009-2010: Ecological rankings 9
Albacore tuna Scientific name: Thunnus alalunga Other names: White tuna (canned); albacore, longfinned albacore, thon blanc (France), tunny (UK), binnaga, bincho, tombo (Japan). Ranking: D (Amber - Concerns) Description: This top predator is a highly migratory species of tuna that is mainly caught by troll and longline fisheries (30-50% of the catch) off the west coast of New Zealand‟s North and South Islands. The albacore catch steadily increased following the start of commercial fishing in the 1960s and fluctuated (between 2200 and 6600 tonnes) in the last ten years (Lewis and Williams, 2001, p29). The albacore troll fishery is currently seeking environmental certification under an international body - the Marine Stewardship Council. Ecological concerns: The bycatch of sharks, seabirds and fur seals, declining stock trends and the absence of catch limits, a management plan and an updated stock assessment. Removal of this large predatory species from the ocean‟s food web has wide ecological implications. Economic value: The main market is for canned albacore, with the canning process done outside New Zealand. Canned albacore tuna is sold as “white tuna”, mainly in the USA. The export value is over $10 million per year. Best option: Troll caught tuna (e.g. West Coast of the South Island). ASSESSMENT OUTPUT Biology & risk of overfishing (score: C) Distribution: Albacore tuna are a highly migratory species found on the west coast of the North and South Islands between New Plymouth and Fiordland. It is also found on the East Coast of the North Island. Maximum age (years): 20 Age at sexual maturity: 4-6 Growth rate: Medium. Reproductive output: Medium. Age exploited: 2 Status and sustainability of fish catches (score: C) Population size: Unknown - South Pacific migratory population. Annual catch limit: There are no catch limits set for New Zealand (it is not on the QMS) and there is no global catch limit. Recorded catch: Latest reported annual landings of 2251 tonnes in 2008. Stock trends: Declining. MSY Status: Unknown - Likely to be above BMSY. The Ministry of Fisheries assessment plenary report states: “The current assessment indicates lower levels of stock size and maximum sustainable yield which appear to be more realistic than previous assessments. There is uncertainty regarding the sustainability of the south Pacific albacore stock and the WCPFC [Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission] Scientific committee recommended that catches of south Pacific albacore remain at current levels considering the current rates of fishing mortality on adult albacore.” (MFish 2008, p31). Impact of fishing method and Protected, threatened or endangered species bycatch (score: D and C) Fishing Method(s): Trolling on the West Coast of the South Island and longlining around the North Island. Habitat damage: Low. Bycatch: Sharks and New Zealand fur seals are caught in the longline fishery and sharks are caught in the troll fishery. Ecological effects: Excess removal of this and other large predatory species has knock-on effects on the wider food web. Management and Management unit (score: C and D) Quota Management Species: No. Catch limits: No, nor is there an Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ). Management plan: No. The albacore troll fishery is currently seeking environmental certification under the Marine Stewardship Council (and international body that assesses and awards sustainable fisheries certifications). This process may lead to the development of a formalised plan. Forest & Bird Best Fish Guide 2009-2010: Ecological rankings 10
Page 2 and 3: Best Fish Guide 2009-2010 How susta
Page 4 and 5: Contents Introduction 1 New Zealand
Page 6 and 7: Introduction New Zealand’s oceans
Page 8 and 9: Forest & Bird hopes that making sea
Page 10 and 11: What species is it? Most fish speci
Page 12 and 13: The Best and the Worst New Zealand
Page 16 and 17: Management component: Single specie
Page 18 and 19: Anchovy Scientific name: Engraulis
Page 20 and 21: Management component: Two species m
Page 22 and 23: Bigeye tuna Scientific name: Thunnu
Page 24 and 25: Blue cod Scientific name: Paraperci
Page 26 and 27: Blue mackerel Scientific name: Scom
Page 28 and 29: Blue shark Scientific name: Prionac
Page 30 and 31: Blue warehou Scientific name: Serio
Page 32 and 33: Butterfish Scientific name: Odax pu
Page 34 and 35: Impact of fishing method and protec
Page 36 and 37: Eels Scientific name: Anguilla aust
Page 38 and 39: Elephant fish Scientific name: Call
Page 40 and 41: Flatfish Black flounder, yellow-bel
Page 42 and 43: Frostfish Scientific name: Lepidopu
Page 44 and 45: Gemfish Scientific name: Rexea sola
Page 46 and 47: Catch limits: Yes. Management plan:
Page 48 and 49: Management and management unit (sco
Page 50 and 51: Habitat damage: Bottom trawling red
Page 52 and 53: 1.2: B2009 very likely to be 39% B0
Page 54 and 55: Habitat damage: Low for purse seini
Page 56 and 57: Kahawai Scientific name: Arripis tr
Page 58 and 59: Kingfish Scientific name: Seriola l
Page 60 and 61: Ling Scientific name: Genypterus bl
Page 62 and 63: Lookdown dory Scientific name: Cytt
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Management and management unit (sco
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Orange Roughy Scientific name: Hopl
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Oreo Scientific name: Allocyttus ni
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Oysters Scientific name: Tiostrea c
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Pacific bluefin tuna Scientific nam
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Paddle crab Scientific name: Ovalip
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Stock assessment: No quantitative s
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PAU 7: “The assessment shows a de
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Queen scallops Scientific name: Chl
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Habitat damage: Trawling damages de
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GUR 8: “It is not known if recent
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Ribaldo Scientific name: Mora moro
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Impact of fishing method and protec
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Marlborough-Canterbury (CRA5): “T
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Management and management unit (sco
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Coromandel - “biomass estimates a
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Stock assessment: No completed quan
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Bycatch: Juvenile school sharks are
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Management plan: No. Management com
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Ecological effects: The primary eff
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Management plan: No. Management com
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SNA2: “As there are no indices of
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Habitat damage: Bottom trawling bul
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Impact of fishing method and protec
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Ecological effects: As with most sh
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Stargazer / monkfish Scientific nam
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Striped marlin Scientific name: Tet
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Swordfish Scientific name: Xiphias
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Tarakihi Scientific name: Nemadacty
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Trevally Scientific name: Pseudocar
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Trumpeter Scientific name: Latris l
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Yellowfin tuna Scientific name: Thu
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Yellow-eyed mullet Scientific name:
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Appendix I Best Fish Guide 2009-201
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Criteria Scores Criterion importanc
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Acronyms ACAP - Agreement on the Co
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Developed fishery - A fishery opera
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Trammel net - Type of gill net with
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Fish Name BFG name Forest & Bird Be
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Best Fish Guide 2009-2010 - Forest and Bird

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