This report provides estimates of annual levels of individual fish and invertebrate species bycatch in eight fisheries across nine New Zealand Tier-1 deepwater species, for 1990–91 to 2010–11. Commercial catch-effort data were used to scale up rates calculated from the observed fishery. Summary tables detail the annual bycatch and bycatch trend for each species or species group.

This report provides estimates of annual levels of bycatch and discards in the New Zealand arrow squid fishery for 1990–91 to 2010–11, using commercial catch-effort data to scale up rates calculated from the observed portion of the fishery. Arrow squid accounted for about 80% of the total catch; the main bycatch species were barracouta, spiny dogfish, and jack mackerel. Annual bycatch ranged from about 4500 t to 25 000 t; annual discards ranged from about 200 t to about 5500 t.

This report describes changes in the benthic communities of Spirits Bay (Piwhane) in relation to fishing pressure and environmental factors. Data were analysed from surveys in 2006 and 2010. Epifaunal and infaunal community data consistently identified year, habitat, depth and fishing effects. Species responses to explanatory terms were examined. Species identified here as most sensitive to fishing had previously been identified as sensitive on the basis of life history and morphology.

This report maps the spatial and temporal distribution of bottom contact trawling for 21 years using TCEPR data. Each of eleven target species, all other species in aggregate, and all species combined are analysed. Statistics for the footprint and effort per 5 x 5km cell in relation to depth zones, fishable area, habitat and preferred habitat of each species are provided. The footprint for all species is estimated at 385 032 km2.

This supplementary material accompanies the risk assessment of the impact of fishing-related mortalities on seabirds breeding in the New Zealand region. It provides detailed information on the demographic parameters and on the at-sea distribution of the 70 seabird species included in the risk assessment. The distributional maps encompass the breeding and non-breeding distributions, and also include observer data of incidental seabird captures in commercial fisheries.

This study presents a risk assessment of the impact of fishing-related mortalities on 70 of the seabird species that breed in the New Zealand region. The risk for each seabird species was estimated as the ratio between the estimated annual number of fatalities due to fisheries bycatch and the Potential Biological Removal (PBR). Included in this estimation was a recovery factor, which protects against errors in the demographic estimates used to calculate the PBR.

This study assessed the accuracy of methods used for estimating the maximum growth rate and the total size of seabird populations. These parameters are required for calculating the Potential Biological Removals (PBRs), used for assessing the impact of fishing-related mortalities on seabirds. The findings show that an additional calibration factor needs to be included when calculating the PBR. The calibration factor was found to be between 0.17 and 0.61, depending on the species.

Human activities other than fishing that impact on cartilaginous fishes are reviewed, including noise, electromagnetic fields, habitat loss, aquaculture and ecotourism. There is a dearth of information worldwide and extrapolation of the few original field-based studies to other species and locations is likely invalid. Interactions between humans and chondrichthyans will increase in future, but our knowledge of the extent of such interactions and ways to mitigate their impacts, is sadly lacking.

We present potential uses of simple spatially explicit production models as tools to assist Ecological Risk Assessments (ERA) of the benthic impact of New Zealand deepwater fisheries. The effect of different management options on various communities can be assessed in a quantitative, transparent, and reproducible manner. Clearly quantified results of simulated management actions can then inform the management response to the ERA of specific communities.

This report presents estimates of incidental captures of marine mammals in commercial trawl fisheries in New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone. Estimates were derived for common dolphin Delphinus delphis, fur seal Arctocephalus forsteri, and New Zealand sea lion Phocarctos hookeri, using statistical models based on fishing effort and observer data. It updates existing information of marine mammal bycatch in New Zealand waters, including the 2010–11 fishing year.

This report attempts to assess fisheries risks to the viability of the main population of white-capped albatross (Thalassarche steadi), which breeds on the Auckland Islands. Three types of data were available: bycatch, photographic surveys, and mark-recapture. The mark-recapture data provided estimates of adult survival (0.96 with a 95% confidence interval of 0.91–1.00), annual probability of breeding (0.68, C.I. 0.58–0.81), and breeding success (0.63, C.I. 0.51–0.75).

Basic demographic information necessary to characterise the productivity of two species of deepwater sharks, shovelnose dogfish Deania calcea and leafscale gulper shark Centrophorus squamosus in New Zealand waters was developed through analysis of age, growth, reproduction, and survey biomass trends from the collections on the Chatham Rise and Sub-Antarctic plateau.

To inform a review of the NPOA-Sharks, 107 research and monitoring studies carried out on cartilaginous fishes were reviewed. Most studies were on genetics, distribution and movement, catches and CPUE, and trawl surveys. Eighty-three of the 119 known species occurred in at least one study, and 36 species occurred in none. The achievements of the NPOA are assessed in relation to the actions specified in the plan. Recommendations are made for research to complete actions that were not achieved.

In March 2004 the ‘BioRoss Survey’ assessed the biodiversity of selected marine assemblages in the northwestern Ross Sea. The survey found that depth-related variables were the main environmental drivers for the fish assemblages, while a combination of large-scale oceanographic and local habitat variables influence the patterns of macroinvertebrate assemblage composition. The survey data and findings provide useful information for the conservation and environmental management of the region.

This report presents estimates of annual bycatch and discard levels in the commercial scampi fishery based on reported effort and scientific observer data. Combined estimates were made for QMS species, non-QMS species, invertebrates, and rattails; separate estimates were made for javelinfish. Scampi accounted for about 17% of the total catch; rattails (29%), sea perch (8%), ling (7%), and hoki (6%) were the main bycatch species.

Rhodolith beds in New Zealand harboured high diversity of associated macroalgae and invertebrates, undescribed taxa as well new records and range extensions of known species. Subtidal beds were investigated, examining structure and physical characteristics at two locations in the Bay of Islands, and characterising two species, Lithothamnion crispatum and Sporolithon durum. Responses of these rhodolith species to environmental stressors were also investigated both in the field and in culture.