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Separating the Jacks

Jack Mackerel (JMA) are a multi-species stock in the QMS that have been continuously sampled since 1994. Last year Trident Systems picked up the sampling programme at short notice, after quota owners received a request from MPI.
 
The MPI instruction was to sample 30 landings of more than 10 tonnes. Up to 200 fish were randomly selected, weighed and measured.
 
At a meeting of quota owners last month in Tauranga Dr David Middleton, who is now employed by Trident full time, reported back to the factory samplers and quota owners. A written report of this meeting will soon be sent to those quota owners who were unable to attend – but as a quick heads up we learnt that there is considerable variation in species composition across the years, no seasonal effect and that most of the catch was taken in western Bay of Plenty. 
It’s ok to play hard but play fair
 
Over the last two years there has been a lot of talk about the Snapper 1 fishery that stretches from the East Coast of Northland, through the Hauraki Gulf down to the Bay of Plenty.
 
A recent report released by the Hauraki Gulf Forum has suggested that snapper numbers are falling and cuts in fishing quotas may be needed. This is far from the truth.
 
The Ministry’s 20 year rebuild target for the Snapper 1 fishery was set in 1997 and has been met. Snapper numbers are increasing under the current catch and catch data shows that mature fish are abundant.
 
We know this because of the science undertaken by NIWA, which was tested and reported through the Ministry’s science working group and then used by the Ministry’s fisheries managers to review catch limits (customary, commercial and recreational). The Ministry is confident of its science, and not only provided a 500 tonne catch increase to recreational fishers but also signalled that the fishery could sustain higher catches.
 
The Snapper 1 fishery is not in crisis.
 
Snapper in East Northland have increased by 37% since 1999, while snapper in the combined Hauraki Gulf / Bay of Plenty have increased by 67% since 1988 (68% for Hauraki Gulf and 48% for Bay of Plenty). These results are from the 2014 MPI Plenary Report. Model projections predicted all sub-stocks would increase in size in the coming years. 
 
We are unaware of any science that shows a correlation between fisheries recruitment and marine reserves. That is, an increase in fish numbers because of more marine reserves. While there may be more fish in resident populations within reserves, they have no influence on the biomass of fish stocks.  
 
In the Snapper 1 fishery the biggest influence on stock numbers is weather and water temperature. We are concerned that simplistic notions such as using marine reserves to combat over-fishing are being promoted without considered scientific analysis and peer review.
 
The big unknown in the Snapper One fishery is how many fish are being caught by recreational fishers including charter boats. In the absence of recreational fishers reporting their catch we have to rely on estimates from surveys.
 
NIWA science reported that recreational fishers have almost quadrupled their daily catch in the last 10 years. 85% of their catch is snapper.
 
In 2013 the recreational catch was 52% over its allowance, and an increase of 149% since 1986, yet the snapper fishery continues to grow.
 
We are very concerned at the misperception about snapper being overfished in popular media.  We urge people to take the time and get better informed – talk to the scientists – and celebrate the fishery.
 
SNA 1 Commercial
At the start of the new fishing year Inshore welcomed Tom Clark onto our team.  After 8 years working for Seafood New Zealand in policy and advocacy, we're excited to be building our Inshore capacity with such high calibre staff.
Negotiations on the Auckland Regional Policy Statement has brought everyone into the city.

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