Catch-at-age data are important for the stock assessment of fish species because they provide information on the strength and progression of age classes in the stock, including juveniles and fish that are large enough to be taken by commercial fishers. These data include information on fish length and age (from otoliths—the ear bones of fish) collected at sea by observers from the commercial catch.

This report provides analyses of catch-at-age from the bottom trawl fisheries for barracouta (Thyrsites atun, BAR) in BAR 5 (Southland) and for gemfish (Rexea solandri, SKI) in SKI 3 (southeast coast) and SKI 7 (Challenger) for the 2021–22 fishing year. These results are the second of a three-year catch-at-age series for these two species.

Data for the 2021–22 season included few barracouta under 60 cm, indicating either less fishing on smaller (and younger) barracouta, or a poor year class should be expected. Most of the barracouta were aged 2–5 years.

Gemfish from SKI 3 in the 2021–22 fishing year showed a range of fish sizes, with most between 45 and 52 cm, which corresponded to age 2 fish, and also at sizes that corresponded to ages 4–6.

Gemfish from SKI 7 were less variable in length and included some fish under 50 cm, mainly females, which corresponded to ages 0–1. Most of the gemfish in SKI 7 around 50 cm in length corresponded to age 2; this was a strong cohort, particularly for males. Females were generally larger (and older) than males in the bottom trawl catch, with a strong mode at ages 5–8 for the females.

We have an application form you can use if you want to propose a change to the "New Zealand list of scientific names of fish". Download either the Word or PDF version:

The aim of this project is to provide a pathway that enables New Zealand to implement the 2013 WS

methodology for drained Organic Soils. The objectives were to:

1 review spatial data to inform the current and 1990 extent of Organic Soils, and review classification

approaches and their implications

2 review approaches to estimating current and 1990 activity data for Organic Soil areas, including

nutrient status, drainage depth, and land-use class

3 review IPCC emission factors and existing greenhouse gas measurement studies from Organic Soils

in New Zealand, and examine the ability to derive New Zealand / region-specific emission factors

based on these data

4 provide recommendations to implement the 2013 WS at a minimum level and make recommendations

for where future research should be prioritised to improve emission estimates for drained Organic

Soils in New Zealand on the basis of the highest sources of emissions and/or the highest sources of

uncertainty

this is a printer-friendly summary of the recreational fishing rules for the Southland area.

this is a printer-friendly summary of recreational fishing rules for the Auckland Kermadec area.