Best Fish Guide 2009-2010 - Forest and Bird

Ling
Scientific name: Genypterus blacodes
Other names: hoka, hokarari, rari (Maori), ashiro, kingu
(Japan), kingklip (South Africa).
Ranking: E (Red - Avoid)
Description: Ling is a bottom dwelling species of the eel family, which lives at depths of 300-700m throughout New
Zealand. It is often caught as bycatch in hoki and hake trawl fisheries, though it is also targeted with bottom longline
and bottom trawl methods. The ling trawl and longline fishery is currently seeking environmental certification under
an international body - the Marine Stewardship Council.
Ecological concerns: Damage to fragile deepwater species and habitats caused by bottom trawling and the high
level of globally threatened seabird species and NZ fur seals caught as bycatch. Also of concern is the unknown
long-term sustainability of some current catch limits and landings, the uncertainty of stock boundaries, tthe lack of a
management plan for the fishery and the loss of ling from diving depths.
Economic value: The main export markets are in Asia, particularly Hong Kong and Japan plus Australia and Spain.
Exports were worth $40 million in 2008.
ASSESSMENT OUTPUT
Biology and risk of overfishing (score C)
Distribution: Ling is widespread in water off the south of the North Island and off the South Island, but is mainly caught south of the
South Island and over the Campbell Rise at 200-700m.
Maximum age (years): 30
Age at sexual maturity: 5-9
Growth rate: Variable.
Reproductive output: Medium to low.
Age exploited: 5
Status and sustainability of fish catches (score C)
Population size: Unknown for LIN 1 and LIN2 (most of the North Island) and uncertain for LIN 7 (West Coast South Island). Other
areas (LIN 3, 4, 5 and 6) are likely above BMAY.
Annual catch limit: The catch limit was set at 21,977 tonnes in 2003-04.
Recorded catch: Reported landings of 16,264 tonnes in 2007-08, the third lowest catch in 15 years.
Stock trends: Unknown for LIN 1 and LIN2 (non-Cook Strait), declining for LIN2 (Cook Strait); uncertain for LIN 7, declining slowly
LIN 5 and 6, and increasing for LIN 3 and 4.
MSY Status: Unknown for LIN 1 and 2, described as "sustainable" for LIN 3 and 4 and LIN 5, 6 and 7.
The Ministry of Fisheries assessment plenary report states: For LIN1: “In the absence of a representative index of abundance,
it is not known whether current LIN 1 catches or the TACC are sustainable. The state of the stock in relation to BMSY is unknown.
The biological stock affinities of ling in LIN 1 are unknown..”
For LIN 2 (Cook Strait – 40% of catch): “The model results … suggest that the stock has declined, particularly since the late 1980s.
Based on the 2007 stock assessment current stock size is estimated to be above BMAY but is likely to continue to decline at current
catch levels. It is not known if recent landings and the current TACCs are sustainable, or are at levels which will allow the stocks to
move towards a size that will support the MSY [maximum sustainable yield].
For LIN3 and LIN4: “Based on the 2007 stock assessment current stock size is estimated to be well above BMAY and building.
Catches at the level of the current TACC are likely to be sustainable..”
For LIN 5 and 6 (but not Bounty Plateau): “Based on the 2007 assessment ling stocks are probably only lightly fished and current
stock sizes are estimated to be well above BMAY. Estimates of absolute current and reference biomass are unreliable... It is likely that
the current TACC is sustainable, as current catches appear to be having only a small impact on biomass levels.”
For LIN7 (West Coast): “Based on the 2008 assessment, the status of the LIN 7WC stock is highly uncertain. The stock assessment
model results did not provide reliable estimates of current biomass as a percentage of B0, but it is unlikely that this value is less than
40%, and it could be much higher. The relatively constant catch history since 1989 and the relative constancy of the trawl catch-atage
distributions since 1991 suggest that future catches at the current level are sustainable, at least in the medium term.” (MFish,
2009, p466-467).
Impact of fishing method and protected, threatened and endangered species captures (score E and E)
Fishing method(s): Ling is mainly caught in targeted bottom longline and bottom trawling operations.
Forest & Bird Best Fish Guide 2009-2010: Ecological rankings 55
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