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Seafood to Avoid
Dark ghost shark/Pearl
Scientific name: Hydrolagus novaezelandia
Other names: Chimaera, pearl
Ranking: E (Red - Worst Choice)
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Description: This deepwater shark species is caught almost entirely as bycatch in other target trawl fisheries, notably the hoki fishery, but also silver warehou, arrow squid and barracouta.
The main concerns with this fishery are: the lack of basic biological data, the uncertain long-term sustainability of catch levels and total allowable commercial catches, the state of the fishstocks, the lack of a management plan and the impact of trawling on benthic species. As a bycatch species, it has associated seabird and marine mammal bycatch and ecological concerns.
The fishery assessment plenary report states: "Reported landings have fluctuated in recent years. It is not known if recent catch levels or current total allowable commercial catch are sustainable in the long term or whether they will allow the stocks to move towards a size that will support the maximum sustainable yield." (MFish 2007, p291).
Market: Ghost shark exports of around $2 million to Australia and shark fins are exported to Asia.
Status and sustainable yield
Status: Unknown.
Annual catch limit: Set at 2,943 tonnes in 2001-02.
Recorded catch: Estimated landings of 1,725 tonnes in 2005-06, the lowest level in 7 years..
Population size: Unknown.
Stock trends: Unknown.
Fishing method
Method: Trawling, caught as bycatch in hoki, silver warehou, arrow squid and barracouta fisheries.
Habitat damage: Destruction of deepwater habitats by bottom trawling.
Bycatch: Range of bycatch species (see hoki, silver warehou, arrow squid, barracouta), including seabirds, marine mammals and non-target fish.
Ecological effects: Impacts same as hoki, silver warehou, arrow squid, barracouta fisheries.
Management
Stock assessment: No quantitative stock assessment.
Management plan: No.
Quota Management Species: Yes, since 1998.
Biology
Distribution: A deepwater species found throughout New Zealand waters, but mostly off central and southern New Zealand at depths of 200-400m.
Maximum age (years): Unknown.
Age at sexual maturity: Unknown - 52-53cm for males and 62-63 cm for females.
Growth rate: Low.
Growth rate: Low.
Reproductive output: Low.
Age exploited: Unknown.
References: Report from the Fishery Assessment Plenary, May 2007: stock assessments and yield estimates. Part 1: Albacore to Groper, Science Group, Ministry of Fisheries; Guidebook to New Zealand Commercial Fish Species, Revised Edition 1990, NZ Fishing Industry Board.
This
page was updated on 9 November, 2007 |
