The Annual Report for the year 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016 for the Primary Growth Partnership (PGP). This is the flagship research and development programme for the primary sector in New Zealand - industry and government investing together and driving innovation that will have widespread economic, social and environmental benefits.
The purpose of this newsletter is to provide regular updates on planned operational changes and other relevant information for the management of transitional/containment facilities by operators, accredited persons and staff.
Surveillance is published as the Ministry for Primary Industries’ authoritative source
of information on the ongoing biosecurity surveillance activity and the health status of
New Zealand’s animal and plant populations in both terrestrial and aquatic environments.
It reports information of interest both locally and internationally and complements
New Zealand’s international reporting.
A fishery characterisation and stock assessment have been undertaken and accepted for SCI 3. A three stock model was developed, based on previous studies. Models excluding trawl or photo surveys were examined. Both approaches suggest SSB is currently around 54–60% SSB0. Models excluding trawl surveys suggest stock status would improve to 70% SSB0 by 2020 with future catches at the TACC, while models excluding the photo survey stock status would decline to 42% SSB0
Standardized CPUE indices for the SNA 1 bottom longline fisheries in east Northland, Hauraki Gulf and Bay of Plenty were refined and updated (to 2014/15). Auxiliary analyses of the location based data from the Hauraki Gulf snapper longline fishery revealed considerable variation in the spatial distribution of snapper during 2007/08–2014/15. The operation of the longline fishery was responsive to changes in the distribution of snapper at a range of spatial scales.
This report describes dive transect surveys of sea cucumbers, Australostichopus mollis, conducted in 2014 at two locations identified by fishers as important areas that supported commercial sea cucumber harvesting by breath-hold diving. The survey data were analysed to provide estimates of fisher selectivity and sea cucumber population distribution, size frequency, and biomass to inform fisheries management on sustainable harvest limits