This report summarises trends in the FLA 1 fishery and updates the standardised CPUE indices for flatfish caught in six set net fisheries between 1989–90 and 2020–21. Long-term declines in standardised CPUE are evident in the Manukau and Kaipara harbours. The Hauraki Gulf index shows an overall declining trend with periodic increases to 2017 and has been generally stable since. Variable trends are evident in the remaining three areas, although it is unclear if trends are indicative of abundance.

We examined the influence of water quality at the time of juvenile settlement on subsequent adult flatfish abundance as indexed by commercial catches in the Manukau and Kaipara harbours. Generalised linear models including time-lagged water quality variables indicated an overall negative association between water clarity and flatfish catch, and overall positive association between total phosphorus and flatfish catch in both harbours, suggesting these variables may affect flatfish recruitment.

The spatially explicit fisheries risk assessment (SEFRA) of Hector’s and Māui dolphins was updated and outputs were reported for Hector’s dolphins in three local-scale areas: the north coast of the South Island, the Kaikōura coast, and the south coast of the South Island. This analysis included a substantial revision of the model used to estimate the spatial distribution of the dolphins, as well as an update of the fisheries data required by the SEFRA model.

This survey assessed nutrition content and health claims made on 700 food labels across 16 food categories available for retail sale in 2022 in NZ. Claims were identified then assessed to show: the most commonly used claims, whether they met regulatory requirements in Standard 1.2.7 of the Food Standards Code, and any trends since the last survey in 2016/17. Nutrition Content claims were most commonly made on foods. Health claims were less common but had doubled in popularity compared with the previous survey.

The present study assessed potential differences in reporting patterns of pāua fishing effort, following the recent change from Pāua Catch Effort Landing Return forms to an electronic reporting system. Effort data were analysed over a comparable three-year time period pre- and post-reporting change. The findings of this analysis indicate that changes in effort reporting had a limited impact on pāua catch-per-unit-effort indices across quota management areas.

This updated stock assessment for pāua (Haliotis iris) in quota management area PAU 7 estimated that the 2020 status in the Cook Strait area was still below target. Nevertheless, projected biomass indicated strong signs of rebuilding in this area. In other areas, including the Northern Faces of Marlborough Sounds and D'Urville Island, biomass levels are likely to be low; however, no data are available to explain the lack of recovery. The models for these areas were, therefore, not accepted.