A review of fisheries and environmental indicators and methods that could be used to monitor and analyse environmental and ecosystem changes, for use in assessing the performance of deepwater fisheries and environments.

Multibeam echosounder (MBES) data has potential for remote characterisation of seafloor habitats and fauna over large spatial scales. This study assesses the utility of MBES data for predicting benthic habitats and communities using MBES and benthic biological data from Ocean Survey 20/20 voyages to Chatham Rise and Challenger Plateau. We conclude that while MBES data can be useful for coarse level prediction, particularly at local scales, comparisons are not reliable across depths and regions.

Most fished coastal finfish have life histories that can be divided up into spawning/reproduction, eggs and larval periods (not elasmobranches), a juvenile phase, and an adult reproductive phase. Here, we assess knowledge of 38 New Zealand species, w.r.t spawning, oceanographic transport, nursery habitats, adult habitats, adult migrations and movements, and population connectivity and stock structure. Fundamental knowledge gaps are identified, and suggestions for research investment made.

This report reviews the development of the Hauraki Gulf fishery, Whangarei to Whitianga. Emphasis is placed on snapper, with fisheries for over 30 other species taken as bycatch or alternate targets also covered. Analysis of commercial landings or catch data, linked to research findings, is presented by fishing method, by port, by relative importance, and by ecological grouping. Each fishery is then described separately, with references. Appendices tabulate landings, and relevant legislation.

The report contains supplementary material on the details of the statistical analyses conducted to estimate Hector's dolphin abundance during the summer and winter of 2013, for a study area that extended along the east coast of the South Island (Farewell Spit to Nugget Point) out to 20 nmi, excluding harbours and sounds. Comments and responses to two independent reviewers of the project are also included along with other miscellaneous material.

Aerial surveys were conducted during the summer and winter of 2013 to estimate Hector's dolphin abundance. The study area extended along the east coast of the South Island (Farewell Spit to Nugget Point) out to 20 nmi, excluding harbours and sounds. After applying statistical methods to account for imperfect detection of dolphins and fraction of study area surveyed, an estimated 9130 (95% CI: 6342–13 144) dolphins were in the study area during the summer and 7456 (5224–10 641) in winter.

We present an analysis of TCEPR bottom trawl data for trawls targeting the Tier 1 species (hake, hoki, jack mackerel, ling, orange roughy, oreo-dory, scampi, southern blue whiting, squid from the deepwater fish plan) between 1989–90 and 2008–09. We compare each trawl footprint with the relevant NABIS ranges and the footprint for all tier 1 species with the BOMEC. On average, 88.9% of the BOMEC cells have seen no trawling between 1989–90 and 2008–09, with 98.6% in 2008–09.

Boosted regression trees were used to model the relationships between available remote-sensed environmental data and sightings data of four petrels in the Ross Sea area: Antarctic, snow petrel, cape, and southern giant petrel. The distribution of each species was influenced by different variables, with distance from shelf break most important for Antarctic petrels; average surface temperature for snow petrels; ice cover for cape petrels; and chlorophyll summer maxima for southern giant petrels.

Vulnerable marine ecosystems are deep-sea ecosystems that are highly vulnerable to fishing activity. There are few data available on the distribution of VMEs to use for planning spatial protection measures. Therefore it is important to develop predictions of where VMEs are likely to occur. Data for VME indicator taxa were compiled, and habitat suitability modelling approaches evaluated, to determine their usefulness for predicting the distribution of VMEs in the South Pacific Ocean region.

This literature review presents a summary of existing information on interactions between marine mammals and commercial fisheries in New Zealand waters. Also included is population information of the 35 cetacean and pinniped (sub)species that inhabit this region. The review forms the basis of a risk assessment of the impact of fishing-related mortalities on marine mammals in New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

This spatially explicit patch dynamic model illustrates how disturbance to seafloor ecosystems influences functional diversity, and ultimately, other elements of biodiversity and ecosystem function. The model is parameterised by life history characteristics of eight interacting functional groups (e.g., scavengers, epifauna). Congruence between the model and empirical data showcases the value of this heuristic tool in assessing strategies to minimise the adverse effects of seafloor disturbance.

To determine whether deep-sea habitat forming corals may be affected by Ocean Acidification this report gives baseline data on coral mineralogy, reviews age and growth and in aquaria studies to see how they might tolerate and respond to future climate change, and researches the influence of present day carbonate concentrations on the distribution of deep-sea corals and associated fisheries habitat in New Zealand waters. Potential refugia for deep-sea corals are identified.

Results are presented from 97 101 stomachs of highly migratory species caught on surface longlines around New Zealand from 1994 to 2012. Dietary items are tabulated for 26 species and analysed in detail for 13 of these (ie. mako, porbeagle, and blue sharks, longsnouted and shortsnouted lancetfish, moonfish, Ray’s bream, albacore, butterfly, yellowfin, bigeye, and southern bluefin tunas, and swordfish). Within- and between-species dietary differences are discussed.

In March 2004 the BioRoss Survey assessed the biodiversity of selected marine assemblages of the Balleny islands and two nearby seamounts. Depth-related variables were the main environmental drivers for the fish assemblages, while a combination of large-scale oceanographic and local habitat variables influenced 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 the existing time series of toheroa abundance estimates from surveys of the six main toheroa populations, and reviews the current knowledge available regarding toheroa, including local perspectives gathered from a case study in Northland. Possible factors influencing toheroa abundance were identified, and, where sufficient data were available, these were investigated further.

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.