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Fish stocks under the Quota Management System (QMS)

To report on fish stocks under the QMS, the following two aspects are measured:

Assessed fish stocks

New Zealand’s fish stock assessment is the basis for reviewing catch limits for species subject to quota. Safe fishing levels are worked out by determining the largest average annual catch that can be taken over time without decreasing a stock’s productive potential (maximum sustainable yield or MSY).

Working groups estimate the status of each stock, to determine whether current TACCs and actual catch levels are sustainable.

When new information results in substantial changes to previous assessments, a report is referred to the Fishery Assessment Plenary for further consideration and a document is prepared summarising the state of each stock.

From here, economic, social and environmental considerations are taken into account to determine whether TACCs should be adjusted, and if so how quickly. Once adjustments are made the process starts again.

Status of fish stocks

The Fisheries Act 1996 requires fish stocks to be managed so their numbers stay at or above a target level. Generally, the target level is set at the level that can produce the maximum sustainable yield (MSY); that is, the largest average annual catch that can be taken without damaging future stocks. The status of a fish stock is determined by how the stock compares with this target level.

Status classes

This indicator describes the present status of the stock relative to its target level (usually the biomass needed to produce maximum sustainable yield – BMSY). The status of New Zealand fish stocks are classified as:

  • above target levels1
  • near or above target levels1
  • probably near or above target levels
  • possibly near or above target levels
  • below target levels.

This information has come from the latest fish stocks report card.

1In 2008, we separated ‘near or above target levels’ in to two separate categories: ‘above target levels’ and ‘near or above target levels’ to provide a more comprehensive and meaningful disaggregation of the data. While we are unable to apply these new categories to previous years’ data, we will continue to use ‘above target levels’ and ‘near or above target levels’ for future reporting.

Last updated: September 2009