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Seafood with Concerns
GarfishScientific name:
Hyporhamphus ihi
Other names: hangenge, ihe, wariwari,
takeke (Maori), piper, half-beak, demi-bec neozelandias (France(
Ranking: D (Amber - Concerns) |
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Description: This comparatively short-lived endemic species is common in New Zealand waters.
The main concerns with this fishery are: the lack of some basic biological information, information on stock size and yield estimates, the uncertainty of some basic biological information, limited research, the great uncertainty about stock boundaries and absence of a management plan.
The fishery assessment plenary report states: "Estimates of current and reference biomass are not available. A fishery has existed for several decades, but it is not known how heavily this has exploited the stock. It is not possible to determine if recent catch levels will allow the stock(s) to move towards a size that would support a maximum sustainable yield." (MFish 2007, p271).
Market: Includes Asia.
Status and sustainable yield
Status: Unknown
Annual catch limit: TACC of 50 tonnes set in 2002-2003.
Recorded catch: Reported landings of 9 tonnes in 2003-04.
Population size: Unknown
Stock trends: Unknown
Fishing method
Method: Beach seine and lampara net. Garfish are sometimes taken as a non-target catch in the pilchard fishery.
Habitat damage: Low due to most fish being caught by beach seine and lampara nets.
Bycatch: Relatively low bycatch but small fish can be caught by both methods.
Ecological effects: Low impacts due to the small fishery using beach seine and lampara nets.
Management
Stock assessment: No quantitative stock assessment.
Management plan: No.
Quota Management Species: Yes, since 2002.
Biology
Distribution: Inshore waters around New Zealand.
Maximum age (years): 10?
Age at sexual maturity: 2-3
Growth rate: Moderate (uncertain)
Reproductive output: High.
Age exploited: 2-3 (uncertain)
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 7 November, 2005 | 
