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Seafood to Avoid
RubyfishScientific name: Plagiogeneion rubiginosum
Other names: Rock salmon (South Africa)
Ranking: E (Red
- Worst Choice)
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Description: This very long-lived mid-to-deepwater species is mainly caught as bycatch in trawl fisheries for alfonsino, gemfish, barracouta, hoki and jack mackerel. There is also a developing target trawl fishery. At least a third of recent annual catches were from targeted mid-water trawling fished close to the bottom.
The main concerns with this fishery are: the unknown sustainability of recent catch levels, the recent decline in landings in QMA 2, the lack of a stock assessment, the lack of some basic biological data, the absence of directed research, the lack of a quantitative stock assessment and the lack of management plans. Non-target fish bycatch (including marine mammals and seabirds) and trawl impact on seabed communities are also of concern.
The fishery assessment plenary report states: No estimates of current or reference biomass are available "Given the short history of the fishery in QMA 2, it is not known whether the level of recent commercial catches in this QMA is sustainable in the short term, and whether the decline in landings represents regional or localised depletion, or a decline in directed fishing effort. It is not known whether the recent commercial catches from QMA 2 are sustainable in the long term, or at a level that will allow the stock to move towards a size that will support the maximum sustainable yield. For most other areas it is not known if recent catches are sustainable or will allow the stocks to move towards the size that will support the maximum sustainable yield." (MFish, 2007, p762).
Market: Europe and Asia.
Status and sustainable yield
Status: Unknown.
Annual catch limit: Set at 546 tonnes in 2007-08.
Recorded catch: Reported landings of 507 tonnes in 2005-06.
Population size: Unknown.
Stock trends: Unknown, but declining catches in QMA 2.
Fishing method
Method: Mainly caught as bycatch in trawl fisheries and targeted by mid-water trawling where the gear is usually fished close to the bottom.
Habitat damage: Trawling on seamount features or close to or on the seabed can cause damage.
Bycatch: A range of quota management system species in the target fishery including tarakihi, silver warehou, gemfish and ling. Also seabirds and marine mammals caught in the hoki and associated fisheries.
Ecological effects: Impact of bottom trawling on deeper water ecosystem and species.
Management
Stock assessment: No quantitative stock assessment.
Management plan: No.
Quota Management Species: Yes, since 1998.
Biology
Distribution: Found in sub-tropical waters around northern and central New Zealand at depths ranging from 50 to 800m, but absent from the southern Chatham Rise and Campbell Plateau.
Maximum age (years): 45+
Age at sexual maturity: 7 (uncertain)
Growth rate: Slow.
Reproductive output: Low.
Age exploited: 7
References: Report from the Fishery Assessment Plenary, May 2007: stock assessments and yield estimates. Part 3: Pilchard to Yellow-eyed Mullet. 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 |
