Fishing Activity: Fish Stocks

• Introduction
• Commercial fish catch
• Status of fish stocks
• International comparison

Fishing Activity: Fish Stocks

Introduction

Fishing is the most widespread human activity in the marine environment. New Zealand’s marine environment and fisheries resources are highly valued economically, recreationally, culturally and environmentally. This snapshot report is one of a series that provides information on New Zealand’s fishing activity from an environmental perspective. Total commercial catch and stock status are measured to report on fish stocks under the quota management system (QMS).

Commercial fish catch

Current situation

As shown in figure 1, there were 453,145 tonnes (t) of fish caught commercially in the 2008 fishing year. Middle-depth fish ³(ie, hoki, hake and ling) made up almost a quarter of this total catch, with 112,513 t caught in 2008 (82 per cent of which was hoki). Inshore finfish ³ (including red cod, snapper and tarakihi) made up almost 20 per cent of the total catch at 85,762 t and deepwater trawl species³ (including orange roughy) made up around 8 per cent of the total catch at 39,279 t.

Read a description of this graph

Trend ¹

The commercial fish catch increased from 431,389 t in 1990 to a peak of 652,311 t in 1998 (figure 1). Since then, the annual total catch has generally decreased, to 453,145 t in 2008. These trends are driven mainly by the catch of middle-depth fish (primarily hoki), which accounted for about 40 per cent of total catch in the early to mid-1990s and, on average, over 45 per cent in the peak years between 1998 and 2000. In more recent years, however, middle-depth fish accounted for about 25 per cent of total commercial fish catch.

Inshore finfish catches have remained relatively consistent between 1997 and 2008, whereas catches for deepwater species have decreased, from a peak of 67,317 t in 1992 to 39,279 t in 2008. Figure 1 also shows that annual squid catches fluctuated between 1990 and 2008 with peaks of around 86,000 t in 1995, 2004 and 2005.

Changes in commercial catches may be due to a number of reasons including: biological factors (related to environmental variations), economic factors, changes to fisheries legislation, and/or overfished² stocks.

Status of fish stocks

Current situation

In 2008, 71 per cent of the 101 fish stocks of known status (out of a total of 628 fish stocks), were considered to be not overfished² compared to target levels (see text box on status classes above) (this includes all stocks in the ‘above target levels’, ‘near or above target levels’, ‘probably near or above target levels’, and ‘possibly near or above target levels’) (figure 2). The remaining 29 per cent of fish stocks of known status were considered to be overfished² compared to target levels (this includes all stocks ‘below target levels’). In some cases, the Ministry of Fisheries has rebuilding strategies in place for these fish stocks.

Internationally, the term overfished is commonly used to describe fish stocks below target levels. For the purpose of this report, a stock that is overfished is defined as ‘below target level’. Fish populations can be sustainably fished at much lower population sizes than that at maximum sustainable yield (MSY).

Read a description of this graph

Long-term trend

In New Zealand’s first state of the environment report in 1997, 10 per cent of the 74 fish stocks of known status were reported as overfished² compared to target levels. Over the 11 years since this was reported, the percentage of overfished² stocks has nearly trebled compared to target levels. It is difficult, however, to directly compare these figures as the QMS now has new stocks and sub-stocks and more species are being assessed using improved methodologies.

Recent trend

Since we last reported in 2007, the percentage of overfished² stocks compared to target levels has nearly doubled, from 15 per cent in 2006 and 2007 to 29 per cent in 2008⁵. Included in the 29 per cent of overfished² stocks are:

• one of the two hoki fish stocks
• seven of the eight orange roughy fish stocks
• one of the four oreo fish stocks
• all four gemfish fish stocks
• two of the 11 paua fish stocks
• one of the five snapper fish stocks (west coast North Island)
• all five bluenose fish stocks
• four of the five longfin eel fish stocks.

Allowable catch levels have been reduced in all these fisheries to allow them to rebuild to target levels. In the case of west coast snapper and longfin eel fish stocks, issues relating to river and harbour environments may also be impacting on stocks. It is clear from these trends that pressures on our fisheries remain and our fish stocks will continue to need careful management in the future.

International comparison

Current situation

In 2006, New Zealand had the 12th highest proportion of world fish catches out of 29 OECD countries (figure 3).

Read a description of this graph

Trend¹

Between 1995 and 2006, New Zealand had the 12th highest average annual percentage growth in fish landings out of 24 OECD countries (figure 4).

Read a description of this graph

Last updated: September 2009