New Zealand Fisheries a Model for the World

New Zealand Fisheries a Model for the World, Says Marine Stewardship Council

Embargoed Wednesday 6 May 2009, 11am

“New Zealand’s seafood industry is taking a bold step by putting a third of their fisheries into our programme and seeking MSC independent evaluation. This is a model for the world,” said Mr Will Martin, Chairperson of the Marine Stewardship Council, when he announced five New Zealand Fisheries entering its certification process at the New Zealand Seafood Industry Council’s conference in Wellington today.

“The certification process is the commitment to be tested against a world-class standard for sustainable fishing practices and excellence in fishery management. This will encourage other fisheries to adopt the well-managed fishery practices that New Zealand is renowned for,” said Mr Martin.

Five more New Zealand fisheries are joining an internationally recognised environmental certification process for wild capture fisheries which rewards sustainability and good management practices.

Owen Symmans, Chief Executive of the Seafood Industry Council says the New Zealand seafood industry is committed to sustainability.

“The New Zealand Quota Management System is internationally recognised for providing sustainable management of our fisheries. The Marine Stewardship Council assessment provides third-party verification.

“New Zealand seafood products are among the best in the world based on sustainable management practices and quality. Our Quota Management System is the foundation to our commitment for sustainability and I congratulate those within our industry seeking an international standard that showcases our safe and responsible management of our seafood resource.”

Hake, ling, southern blue whiting, southern scallop and troll-caught albacore tuna fisheries will be joining the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Programme to seek third-party certification. New Zealand’s Hoki fishery is the world’s fisheries certification pioneer and has MSC certification. The Ross Sea toothfish fishery is currently being assessed and is nearing completion of the MSC certification process.

“These fisheries, together with the New Zealand fisheries already in the MSC programme constitute an impressive and diverse share of the nation’s annual seafood production and mean a third of New Zealand’s annual landed catch will be either MSC certified or under evaluation for certification,” Mr Martin said.

“MSC certification is not easily won. Its standards are robust and assessment is intensive, carried out by accredited, third-party certifiers.”

The certification process is an intensive and often expensive independent review however the MSC assessments will determine if current management systems are providing for long-term sustainability. If improvements are needed then each of these fisheries is prepared and resourced to develop and implement further management measures in order to provide certainty for the resource, the environment, for harvesters, suppliers and for customers.

ENDS

Seafood Industry Facts

• New Zealand has the fourth largest EEZ in the world, encompassing 4.4m km2

• 130 marine species are commercially harvested here

• 96 species are managed under the world leading Quota Management System (QMS)

• The New Zealand seafood industry is invested in by about 2500 companies

• More 20,000 New Zealanders are directly and indirectly employed by the seafood industry

• Seafood is one of New Zealand’s largest export industries by value

• The estimated commercial value of New Zealand caught fish was nearly NZ$1.4 billion last year; from landings of almost ½ million tonnes

• Commercial fishing rights in New Zealand have been allocated through Individual Transferable Quotas (ITQ), which provide the foundation for responsible fisheries management

• New Zealanders and NZ-owned companies can own quota in the QMS

• The New Zealand seafood industry receives no direct subsidies from the Government and annually contributes direct funding to research and management of NZ$38 million

• Annual fisheries catches are based on independent science-based measurements and advice

• MFish and the commercial industry continually monitor, assess, and mitigate the environmental effects of fishing to maintain fully sustainable fisheries

• This shared fisheries approach ensures that the management of commercial fisheries engages broadly with stakeholders and interested parties including indigenous Maori, recreational fishers, environmental groups and with other community-based parties

• New Zealand takes a “whole of ocean” approach. The commercial industry works together with Government to maintain New Zealand oceans to be among the healthiest in the world.

• Collective industry agreements minimise impacts on marine plants and animals

MSC Backgrounder

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is a global, independent, non-profit organisation that has developed the world’s leading environmental standard for certifying sustainable and well-managed wild capture fisheries.

The MSC programme encourages and supports the responsible management of seafood resources. Its goal is to reverse the global decline of fish stocks, deliver improvements in marine conservation and safeguard fisheries-related livelihoods. The MSC promotes products from MSC-certified fisheries to consumers, retailers and seafood suppliers as the best environmental choice in seafood.

To harness ever-growing consumer demand for sustainable products, the MSC offers its blue eco-label for seafood products that have been certified as sustainable at the fishery level and that are traceable throughout the “Chain of Custody,” which is the entire supply chain from boat to plate. MSC is the only seafood eco-label that is consistent with the ISEAL Code of Good Practice for Setting Social and Environmental Standards and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s guidelines for eco-labelling of fish products.

More than 140 fisheries are currently engaged in the MSC program. Forty-one of those are already certified, 102 are under assessment, and an estimated 20 to 30 are in confidential pre-assessment. Together those fisheries record annual catches of more than 5 million tons of seafood, representing a significant portion of the world’s wild-caught seafood for human consumption — more than 42 percent of wild salmon catch, 40 percent of whitefish catch and 18 percent of lobster catch.

The number of fisheries, industry participants and MSC-labeled products is growing at a rapid rate. Worldwide, more than 2,200 certified sustainable seafood products bear the blue MSC eco-label.

Quota Management System (QMS)

• Industry, government agencies, and other stakeholders work together to assess fish stocks in the quota system. The Ministry of Fisheries reviews the Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) for each fish stock and the Minister of Fisheries sets conservative limits so that breeding populations remain healthy and abundant.

• The QMS is the reason for New Zealand’s reputation as the World’s leader in sustainable fisheries management.

• The Quota Management System was introduced in 1986 to help conserve major fisheries' stocks and make the New Zealand fishing industry more efficient.

• Since 1992, Maori have been allocated 20 percent of each fish species as it has come into the quota management system.

• The quota not allocated to Maori is distributed amongst commercial fishing organisations that hold 'catch history' for each species - based on how much they caught in designated 'catch history' years.

• Tenders are called for (people and organisations bid to buy) any unallocated quota.

• Quota holdings are expressed as proportional shares of each fish stock. Each fish stock has 100 million shares.

• The Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) sets the volume (in tonnes) allowed to be caught each year. The volume can vary from year to year depending on scientific assessments of the state of the fisheries.

• Each quota owner is allocated an Annual Catch Entitlement (ACE) in proportion to their share of the quota for the fish stock. This entitlement expires at the end of the fishing year for each stock.

• ACE and Quota can be sold, or given away just like a piece of land. It doesn't matter who catches the fish, so long as no more than the ACE tonnage is harvested.

Biographies

Will Martin, Chairman of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Board of Trustees

Appointed to his post with the MSC in April, 2005, Will Martin is an American businessman and lawyer. He is also a Senior Fellow for World Wildlife Fund US and previously he was the head of international policy for the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the Clinton administration. In addition, he served a term as Chair on the Committee on Fisheries of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation. Over the course of his career, Will Martin has served in diverse roles as a lawyer, businessman and government official. He practised law, co-founding the Nashville law firm of Harwell Barr Martin & Sloan, now Harwell Howard Hyne Gabbert & Manner, before spending approximately 15 years in a mixture of public service and businesses in the bank-services industry. Today, he is a consultant to both international environmental organisations and domestic businesses, including serving as general counsel of a bank. His interest in the environment is also reflected in his government career, including not only his service at NOAA but also the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation's Committee on Fisheries in Rome, and the International Commission on Atlantic Tunas in Madrid, among others.

Dr Keith Sainsbury, Vice Chair of the Marine Stewardship, Council Board of Trustees

An experienced marine ecologist, Dr Keith Sainsbury was a co-Theme Leader for the Wealth from Oceans ‘Marine Nation’ research theme; helping to shape the future health and productivity of Australia’s marine environment. Dr Sainsbury has been directing research to develop and apply methods to assess the cumulative impacts and multiple-use of marine ecosystems. He also serves as Vice Chair of the MSC Board of Trustees and as a member of the Council’s Technical Advisory Board. Dr Sainsbury was raised and educated in New Zealand, moving to Australia to join CSIRO in 1977. During the 1970s and 80s, Dr Sainsbury provided scientific advice on Australia's offshore tropical fisheries, developing one of the first applications of actively adaptive management to a large-scale trawl fishery. In 1990s, Dr Sainsbury led a research team providing scientific assessments and advice for Australia's large pelagic fish resources - the tunas and billfish. In 2004, Dr Sainsbury was awarded the prestigious Japan Prize, considered to be the highest honour in the world for ecology and sustainability research.

Miguel Angel Jorge, Director, Marine Program, WWF-International

Miguel Angel Jorge leads the development of policies, positions and strategic direction on a wide variety of marine issues across WWF’s global network, which is active in marine conservation in over 50 countries. With his team, Miguel provides strategic and technical input into WWF’s large-scale marine and fisheries conservation initiatives around the world, oversees the European Fisheries Policy Program, and WWF’s high seas conservation program. Miguel has represented WWF at numerous intergovernmental forums and institutions such as the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, the OECD and the World Bank. Miguel has managed community-based marine resource management projects, carried out marine habitat assessments and helped Governments develop marine pollution, protected area, and tourism policies. He also has extensive experience in planning, ecotourism development, aquaculture and artisanal fisheries management. Miguel has a Bachelor’s in Aquatic Biology from the University of California at Santa Barbara and a Master’s of Marine Policy from the University of Delaware and training in cross-sectoral planning and collaboration from the MIT Sloan School of Business.

Industry Comments

Eric Barratt, Managing Director, Sanford Ltd

“New Zealand is at the forefront of sustainable fishing and we need to continue the momentum to stay there. These certification processes will likely see more fisheries follow in quick succession.”

Mitch Campbell, Operations Manager, Challenger Scallop Enhancement Co Ltd

“We have a lot to showcase in the New Zealand seafood industry and maintaining sustainable fisheries is something we dedicate considerable effort to. Third-party verification of our fisheries helps us remain in step with our consumers and their concerns about the environment and sustainability. This is positive for our environment, harvesters, suppliers and future generations.”

George Clement, Chief Executive, DeepWater Group

“The Deep Water Group has a solid international reputation for sustainability, and bringing five more species into the MSC programme helps global market recognition. What this actually means is that Deep Water Group is committed to ongoing safe and responsible management of our resources.”

Miguel Angel Jorge, Director, Marine Programme WWF-International

“WWF-International welcomes the intent of any fishery entering MSC certification for full assessment process. Fisheries in New Zealand see MSC as a useful process to be involved in and it’s a certification they aspire to achieve. WWF-International are committed to sustainable fishing.”

Alastair MacFarlane, General Manager, Trade and Information, New Zealand Seafood Industry Council

“Independent verification that New Zealand’s fisheries are well managed has been demonstrated to add significant value for our industry. The MSC’s standard is held in high regard by retailers and consumers in several of New Zealand’s major seafood export markets as being the most rigorous of the private sector eco-labels. Seeking MSC certification for five species is an ambitious and challenging commitment by industry stakeholders. If successful, they will have demonstrated to customers that they are among the best managed fisheries in the world and worthy of their trust.”

Dr Keith Sainsbury, Vice Chairman of the Marine Stewardship Council Board of Trustees

“I congratulate the DeepWater Group on going forward with MSC certification. It shows great commitment to the sustainability of their industry and admirable openness to independent third party verification. It’s very insightful business thinking will actively position their products in a market that increasingly seeks assurance on both of these issues. The result of this is sustainable fishing industries, sustainable ecosystems, and sustainable supply of seafood products to consumers.”

Five Fisheries for Certification

(Source: DeepWater Group 2009)

New Zealand Albacore

• Average landings: 5337 tonnes

• Predominantly troll-caught fishery

• Managed under a Regional Fisheries Management Organisation

• Little bycatch, or environmental impact

Thunnus alalunga

Albacore tuna is a fast-moving tuna species that migrates great distances around the Pacific Ocean throughout its 10-year life cycle.

Most catches of South Pacific albacore tuna occur in longline fisheries in the waters of other South Pacific states and territories and in high seas areas throughout the geographical range of the stock. Juveniles spawned in the tropics set off towards New Zealand waters and arrive by the time they’re 2-3 years old, and 50-70cm long.

In New Zealand, these juvenile albacore are caught during a summer troll fishery, primarily on the west coasts of the North and South Islands, with 145 vessels taking part in recent years. Albacore are also caught throughout the year by longline mostly as bycatch of the other tuna fisheries. Total annual landings over the past 10 fishing years have averaged 5337 tonnes, although fewer boats choosing to catch tuna during the past few years has reduced more recent catches.

Trolling involves towing several brightly coloured lures behind a fishing boat on lines then hauling in the fish as they are caught.

The New Zealand albacore fishery, especially the troll fishery, sees both very good and poor years that have been linked to cyclic weather patterns. In La Niña years, albacore seem to follow the warmer waters further south into New Zealand waters in greater numbers.

Research and stock assessment

Two albacore stocks (North and South Pacific) are known to live in the Pacific Ocean. The South Pacific albacore stock ranges from the coast of Australia and the waters of Papua New Guinea eastward to the coast of South America south of the equator as far as New Zealand.

Scientific stock assessments for the entire Pacific show that the stock is not in an over-fished state. Overall, fishery impacts on the total number of fish are low (10 percent), although there is more impact on the part of the population around the tropical longline fishery.

No assessment is possible for albacore specifically within New Zealand fisheries waters as the proportion of the greater Pacific stock found within New Zealand waters is unknown and likely varies greatly from year to year.

Management

New Zealand albacore tuna is currently managed under the Western and Central Pacific Fishery Commission (WCPFC). Under this international convention, New Zealand is responsible for managing the fishery within New Zealand fisheries waters but we must ensure our management is compatible with agreements under the Commission and vice versa.

In New Zealand fisheries waters, albacore is not managed under the Quota Management System. Therefore, no total allowable catch (TAC) applies in New Zealand waters or on the high seas. However, conservation and management measures set by WCPFC do place binding controls on the albacore fishery in New Zealand fisheries waters that limit the number of fishing vessels that can take part. New Zealand has not reached the limits set by the Commission.

Total South Pacific albacore catches have fluctuated between 25-65,000 tonnes since 1960, with the average catch being approximately 44,094 tonnes. Catches from within New Zealand fisheries waters are about 10 per cent (average for 2000 through 2004) of those from the greater South Pacific Ocean fish stock.

Troll catches in the high seas have been infrequent and a minor part of the New Zealand fishery over the 1991 to 2000 period. Current fishing effort, and therefore catch, are small. There may be substantial potential for expansion of New Zealand fishing in high seas areas.

Managing environmental impact

Albacore tuna makes up 99 percent of the fish caught when trolling. The remaining one percent is ray’s bream and yellowfin tuna that are both managed under the Quota Management System. Interaction with seabirds and marine mammals are negligible. The troll method does not attract significant numbers of birds, marine reptiles, or marine mammals.

The troll lures are towed on or beneath the surface at specific depths. They have no impact on the seabed.

Marine Stewardship Council Certification

New Zealand troll caught albacore tuna is currently under assessment for environmental certification against the Marine Stewardship Council standards.

The American Albacore Fishing Association’s north and south Pacific fisheries for albacore, which is jointly managed by the WCPFC, achieved MSC Certification in 2007.

New Zealand Hake

Sustainable target and bycatch fishery

• Commercial catch limit: 13,211 tonnes

• Target and bycatch fishery

• Science-based management

• Seasonal trawl fishery

• Environmental effects managed

Merluccius australis

Whiting

Nasello

Heiku

Seehecht

Introduction

Hake are widely distributed throughout New Zealand waters south of 40°S. Adult hake are primarily found in depths of 250-800m. Juveniles are predominantly found in inshore regions shallower than 250m.

New Zealand hake reach a maximum age of at least 25 years. Males grow to 100cm in length and females to 120cm or more. Both sexes reach sexual maturity between 6-10 years of age, at lengths of about 67cm to 75cm (males) and 75cm to 85cm (females).

Hake are known to spawn in three areas in New Zealand waters: off the west coast of the South Island, on the Chatham Rise and on the Campbell Plateau. Juvenile hake are found in all three areas.

The largest hake fishery is along the west coast of the South Island (HAK 7). HAK 7 has been taken both as bycatch in the hoki fishery and as an important target fishery. During the last five years about 77 percent was taken as targeted catch.

The Chatham Rise hake fishery (HAK 4) has also changed from being predominately a bycatch of the hoki fishery to a target fishery. About 75 percent has been caught during the last five years. Similarly, about 57 percent of hake in HAK 1 has been target caught and most of this catch has come from the Campbell Plateau.

Research and stock assessments

Sustainable management of hake in New Zealand is based on the best available independent science. Annual trawl surveys on the Chatham Rise and on the Campbell Plateau, in conjunction with biological sampling data from independent at-sea observers, are used to assess the status of the stocks. This process is public, transparent, and subject to peer review. The Ministry of Fisheries publishes the outcomes of stock assessments and catch limits are reviewed based on this information.

Recruitment of juveniles to the Campbell Plateau has been poor in recent years and is most likely the cause of the recent declines in stock biomass in HAK1. However, the current catch limit of 3701tn is considered to be sustainable.

The most recent stock assessment for the Chatham Rise stock (HAK 4) suggests that this stock is at, or close to, the target level. Variations around the target level will naturally occur in response to juvenile recruitment rates which are unpredictable. The current catch limit is 1800tn.

For the West Coast South Island stock (HAK 7) the current assessment estimates the biomass to probably be above target levels. However, there is considerable uncertainty about the actual stock size. The current catch limit of 7700tn is considered to be sustainable in the short term.

Management

Hake are managed as three separate stocks, and Total Annual Commercial Catch (TACC) limits are based on research specific to each stock. The management target is to maintain hake stocks at or above a biomass that can produce the maximum sustainable yield (BMSY). For hake, BMSY is thought to be between 30 percent and 40 percent of the stock size that would exist in the absence of fishing (B0).

New Zealand manages hake fisheries under the Quota Management System (QMS) and through a collaborative arrangement between government and industry. Ownership of quota by participants in the fishery has resulted in a custodial approach to the utilisation of fisheries resources and in the active involvement by industry in the sustainable management of these resources.

Mitigating the effects of hake fishing on the environment

Incidental interactions may occur between fishing gear, seabirds and fur seals. Fishing vessels use a mix of mandatory devices and agreed industry mitigation measures to reduce interactions with seabirds. Operational Procedures have been implemented to manage the discard of offal, which further reduces these interactions.

Thirty two percent of New Zealand's EEZ is closed to bottom trawling to ensure benthic biodiversity over a range of (pristine) seabed habitats remains untouched. These Benthic Protection Areas include large areas of hake habitat.

A Marine Mammal Operating Procedure has been implemented to ensure best practice is followed to minimise marine mammal captures by the deepwater fishing fleet. Research on the fur seal population on the west coast of South Island is on-going to ensure any adverse effects of fishing on fur seals are within acceptable limits.

Environmental Certification

The Deepwater Group Ltd is currently seeking independent certification of the New Zealand hake fishery by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).

New Zealand Ling

Sustainable target and bycatch fisheries

• Commercial catch limit: 21,977 tonnes

• Target and bycatch fisheries

• Science-based management

• Trawl and longline fisheries

• Environmental effects managed

Genypterus blacodes

Kingklip

Molva

Kingukurippu

Leng

Introduction

Ling are widely distributed throughout the middle depths (200-800m) of the New Zealand EEZ, particularly south of latitude 40°S. Ling live to a maximum age of about 30 years. Females grow significantly faster and reach a greater size than males. Growth rates in different areas also vary significantly; ling grow fastest in Cook Strait and slowest on the Campbell Plateau.

Ling in spawning condition have been reported in a number of localities throughout the EEZ. Spawning generally occurs between July and November, although this appears to vary between areas. Little is known about the distribution of juveniles until they are about 40cm in length when they begin to appear in trawl catches over most of the adult range.

Ling appear to be mainly bottom-dwellers, feeding on crustaceans and fish. However, they may at times be caught well above the bottom, for example when feeding in midwater on hoki during the hoki spawning season.

Since 1980, ling have been caught by trawlers and small domestic longliners. In the early 1990s several large longliners fitted with autoline equipment joined the domestic fleet. This resulted in increased catches of ling off the east and south coasts of South Island (fishstocks LIN 3, 4, 5 and 6). However, since about 2000 there has been a decline trend in harvesting by line vessels and the majority of ling catch is target-caught by trawlers on the Campbell Plateau.

The principal grounds fished by smaller domestic vessels are off the west coast of South Island and off the east coasts of both main islands south of East Cape.

Research and stock assessments

Management of ling in New Zealand is based on the best available independent science. Annual trawl surveys on the Chatham Rise and on the Campbell Plateau, in conjunction with biological sampling data from independent at-sea observers, are used to assess the status of the stocks. This process is public, transparent and subject to peer review. The Ministry of Fisheries publishes the outcomes of stock assessments and catch limits are reviewed based on this information.

The biomass of most ling stocks (LIN 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6) is considered to be well above target levels. Fishing on these stocks is considered to be sustainable.

The biomass of LIN 2 is also thought to be above target levels. However, recent information suggests that the biomass maybe declining and it is not known if the catch level is sustainable.

The biomass of LIN 7 on the west coast of South Island is highly uncertain. However, the relatively constant catch history since 1989 and the relatively flat catch-per-unit effort trend suggest that future catches at the current level are probably sustainable.

Management

New Zealand manages ling fisheries under the Quota Management System (QMS) and through a collaborative arrangement between government and industry. Ownership of quota by participants in the fishery has resulted in a custodial approach to the utilisation of fisheries resources and in the active involvement by industry in the sustainable management of these resources.

Ling are managed as eight separate stocks, only seven of which are actively fished, and catches are based on research specific to each stock. Each stock has a Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) limit. The management target is to maintain stocks at or above a level that can produce the Maximum Sustainable Yield (BMSY). For ling, BMSY is thought to be between 30 percent and 40 percent of the stock size that would exist in the absence of fishing (B0).

Mitigating the effects of ling fishing on the environment

Trawl fishing for ling can incidentally interact with seabirds or fur seals and impact on the seabed. Fishing vessels use a mix of mandatory devices (tori lines and/or bird bafflers) and agreed industry mitigation measures (management of offal discard) to reduce interactions with seabirds.

A Marine Mammal Operating Procedure has been implemented to ensure best-practice operating procedures and to minimise marine mammal captures by the deepwater fishing fleet. Research on the fur seal population on the west coast of South Island is on-going to ensure any adverse effects of fishing are maintained within acceptable limits.

Thirty two percent of New Zealand's EEZ is closed to bottom trawling to ensure the biodiversity of a representative range of benthic habitats remains untouched. The Benthic Protection Areas include large areas of ling habitat.

Environmental Certification

The Deepwater Group Ltd is currently seeking independent certification of the New Zealand ling fishery by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).

Southern Blue Whiting

Responsible science-based management

• Commercial catch limit: 41,848 tonnes

• Science-based management

• Seasonal midwater trawl fishery

• Environmental effects managed

Micromesistius australis

Southern poutassou

Merlu

Minamidara

Blauer wittling

Introduction

Southern blue whiting are found mainly in Sub-Antarctic waters at depths of 250-600m. Although dispersed for much of the year, southern blue whiting aggregate to spawn in August-September and these aggregations are the focus of the commercial fishery. Southern blue whiting have highly variable recruitment with large, but infrequent, year classes often dominating the population.

Four separate stocks have been identified in New Zealand waters and each is managed separately. Each stock is scientifically assessed and has its own Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) which is set by the New Zealand Government.

As the southern blue whiting fisheries all occur at approximately the same time of year it is not possible for the fleet to fish all stocks in any one year. As a consequence, the commercial fishery focuses on the SBW 6B and SBW 6I stocks, which have the largest TACCs and over 95 percent of the southern blue whiting catch is taken from these two stocks.

Southern blue whiting make a high quality surimi product and approximately one third of the catch is exported in this form to Japan and to USA. Most of the remainder is exported in a largely unprocessed form to Asia where it is used to make fish-based products. There is also a small amount of fillet product produced by domestic vessels, most of which is exported to Australia. Over 10,000 tonnes of southern blue whiting product was exported in 2008 with an export value of approximately NZ$22m.

Research and stock assessments

Management of southern blue whiting in New Zealand is based on the best available independent science. Acoustic (sonar) biomass surveys of the spawning aggregations of the major stocks (SBW 6B and SBW 6I) are typically undertaken every two or three years, providing a good estimate of absolute biomass. Survey results, in conjunction with biological sampling data from independent at-sea observers, are used to assess the status of the stocks and this process is public, transparent and subject to peer review. The Ministry of Fisheries publishes the outcomes of stock assessments and catch limits are reviewed based on this information.

Management

New Zealand manages southern blue whiting under the Quota Management System (QMS), with the goal of maintaining stocks at or above a biomass that will support the Maximum Sustainable Yield (BMSY). Southern blue whiting is managed under a constant fishing mortality strategy. The TACC is based on applying a constant fishing mortality rate, F, to an estimate of the biomass of the spawning aggregations. The fishing mortality rate of 0.2 is equal to the estimated natural mortality rate, which is considered to be an analytical proxy for FMSY the fishing mortality rate that on average will result in the stock fluctuating around BMSY.

The TACC for both the SBW 6B and SBW 6I stocks is fully caught each year and both stocks are considered to be above BMSY. The SBW 6B stock is estimated to be well above BMSY. Recent research surveys indicate that a very strong 2002 year class has entered the fishery.

Mitigating the effects of southern blue whiting fishing on the environment

Fish bycatch taken in the southern blue whiting fisheries makes up one percent of the total catch. Most of these species are managed under the QMS and are retained and processed.

Vessels targeting southern blue whiting use mitigation devices (e.g. bird bafflers and tori lines) and manage fish waste discards to reduce interactions with seabirds. Seabird captures are infrequent and the numbers are low.

A small number of New Zealand sea lions is captured each year in the SBW 6I fishery and New Zealand fur seals are occasionally captured in SBW 6B. There have been no recorded captures of New Zealand fur seals or sea lions from SBW 6A or SBW 6R. A Marine Mammal Operating Procedure has been implemented to promote best-practice operating procedures and to minimise marine mammal captures by the deepwater fishing fleet.

Southern blue whiting are taken predominantly by midwater trawl gear, although this gear may contact the seabed, as catches of southern blue whiting are often made near to or on the bottom. Trawling in the fishery occurs over a relatively small area that does not change substantially from year to year, which results in a low level of impact on seabed habitats.

Under the Benthic Protected Areas (BPA) initiative 32 percent of the New Zealand EEZ has been closed to bottom trawling and dredging to protect the biodiversity of representative benthic habitats. Three BPAs are located in the southern blue whiting quota management areas; Campbell East in SBW 6I and Campbell Heritage in SBW 6A.

Environmental certification

The Deepwater Group Ltd is currently seeking independent certification of the New Zealand southern blue whiting fishery by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).

The Challenger Scallop Fishery

Unique management and enhancement

• 3-4 year rotational fishing and resting

• Robust science informs fishing

• Self-governed in conjunction with government

• Managed to minimise impacts on sensitive habitats

The Challenger scallop fishery is located at the top of the South Island and covers the waters of Golden Bay, Tasman Bay and the majority of the Marlborough Sounds. It is the most productive of New Zealand’s scallop fisheries with an annual average commercial catch of around 430 tonnes (meat-weight). The commercial fishery is a target dredge fishery with little by-catch.

The scallop season runs from July to February every year. The commercial harvest only takes place when the scallops are in the best condition, otherwise leaving them undisturbed to spawn.

Scallop fisheries are naturally extremely variable, both between years and different areas. These differences appear to be linked to environmental factors like water temperature and storms as well as predatory pressures from fish eating the larvae. In some areas of the fishery, scallops will mature but fail to grow to the 90mm minimum size before they are lost to the fishery due to natural old age.

Rotation and enhancement

Tasman and Golden Bays are managed under a rotational fishing regime, where each year some areas are fished and some areas are left unfished so the scallops can grow. The Marlborough Sounds is assessed each year and either fished or left to rest depending on how many scallops are available.

The unique component of the Challenger scallop fishery is the Enhancement Programme that has been operating since 1983. The Enhancement Programme uses juvenile scallops (spat) collected from both Golden and Tasman Bays for reseeding to other areas of the fishery. In any one year, up to 90 percent of all scallops taken from the fishery may come from reseeded stock.

The commercial scallop industry pays the full costs of this enhancement, with no contribution from other non-commercial harvesters or the Government.

Management and assessment

The Challenger scallop fishery entered into the Quota Management System in 1992 and has a total allowable catch of 827 tonnes. The Total Allowable Commercial Catch is 747 tonnes with 40 tonnes allocated to recreational fishing and a further 40 tonnes to customary fishing by local iwi.

Robust scientific research allows scallop fishing to be undertaken with the utmost of care. An annual stock assessment of the fishery ensures the Ministry of Fisheries and the scallop industry can:

• determine the population structure, distribution and abundance (numbers and biomass) of scallops aged one year and older within areas of Tasman Bay, Golden Bay and Marlborough Sounds that commercial fishers may fish during the upcoming season;

• estimate the meat-weight (a measure of quality) of commercially sized scallops above a density that would support commercial fishing, and

• in the Marlborough Sounds areas, estimate the abundance (numbers, biomass and density) of commercial sized scallops.

This information is used to estimate how much fishing could occur in the upcoming season.

Managing environmental impacts

Maintaining a healthy scallop fishery is dependent on maintaining a healthy marine environment and recognising the interdependencies between scallops, other organisms living alongside the scallops, the condition and properties of the sea-bed and the quality of the water.

Some areas of scallop habitat are particularly sensitive to disturbance by fishing gear and may be habitats of particular significance for fisheries management. Examples of sensitive habitats include beds of horse mussels, corals, sponge gardens and sea-grass beds. Dense beds of organisms that make up these sensitive habitats are generally not good areas for scallop fishing.

Sensitive habitats that occur inside the southern scallop fishery are protected by law, including sensitive areas at Separation Point and Wedge Point; horse mussels are in the quota management system and have low catch limits and “deemed value” penalties for over-catch.

The scallop industry gathers information on the location of existing and developing sensitive environments in the fishery from the annual biomass survey and other sources (such as the Marlborough District Plan, which identifies areas of ecological value in that part of the fishery).

This information helps inform the process that recommends areas to be closed for fishing in each season and areas to be avoided when reseeding under the enhancement programme.

The Ministry of Fisheries and the Challenger scallop industry continue to work closely together to manage the impacts that dredging has on the seafloor environment.

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