This report describes the survey estimates for blackfoot pāua landed by amateur fishers from land-based access points in the Kaikōura Marine Area and Oaro during a two-month open season from 15 April 2023. This was the second survey conducted to estimate amateur harvest of pāua in the Kaikōura Marine Area and the first to provide cumulative harvest estimates weekly during the open season. Harvest numbers were estimated for rock lobster, yellowfoot pāua, and kina.

For the Bay of Plenty base model run current biomass was estimated to be 68.4% B0 (median), with 95% credible interval 46.6–97.7% B0. For all five-year projection scenarios, there was a low probability that the target biomass would decline below the target level of 40% B0. A stock assessment was also attempted for a Ninety Mile Beach/East Northland/Hauraki Gulf stock, but was unsuccessful due to conflicts between the abundance and catch-at-age data.

Changes in blue cod populations off Canterbury and in the Marlborough Sounds has raised concerns about the impact of human stressors on these populations, but the relationship between most stressors and blue cod is unknown.

Information on blue cod abundance was matched with environmental data to understand the habitat characteristics important for blue cod adults and juveniles off three Canterbury sites; Banks Peninsula, Motunau, Kaikōura.

Changes in potential stressors to blue cod habitat were compared with blue cod population status over 20 years at the sites off Canterbury and in the Marlborough Sounds.

Blue cod were associated with areas where the seafloor is rough and complex (e.g., reef systems), where structural habitat was provided by plants and animals, and in areas with higher water clarity and lower temperature.

Blue cod population status was related to stressors from land use (e.g., coastal water quality), and increasing water temperatures in most locations, although the intensity of these stressors has varied substantially over time and among locations.

This information provides guidance on the scale and focus for future research and potential management opportunities to limit these stressors and ensure sustainability of the blue cod fishery.

This report presents the results of a field survey made in December 2022 to estimate the abundance of kina in Tory Channel, Marlborough Sounds (SUR 7A). Kina densities were determined along with roe biomass from dive and camera transects, with estimates of abundance utilising high resolution bathymetry data. Total biomass of kina in the survey area was estimated to be 595 t, with a CV of 19%; the biomass of kina roe was estimated to be 62.9 t, most of which was in the highest quality category.