Seafood to Avoid
Sea perch/Scarpee
Scientific name: Helicolenus percoids
Other names: matuawhapuku, pohuikaroa, puaihakua (Maori), scarpee, deepsea perch, ocean perch
Ranking:
E (Red - Worst Choice)
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Description: Sea perch is a long-lived relative of the red rock cod. It is mostly caught as bycatch in red cod and hoki trawl fisheries off the east coast of the South Island, including the Chatham Rise. A small targeted catch comes from some central and southern line fisheries, including groper, and a small bycatch comes from bottom longlining.
The main concerns with this fishery are: the unknown sustainability of current catch levels particularly given it is a long-lived species, the destructive impacts of bottom trawling on fragile deepwater habitats and species, non-target fish, seabird and marine mammal bycatch associated with other fisheries, the lack of a quantitative stock assessment and the lack of management plans.
The fishery assessment plenary report states: "No estimates of current or reference biomass are available. For all fishstocks, it is not known if recent catch levels are sustainable or at levels that will allow the stock to move towards a size which will support the MSY [maximum sustainable yield]." (MFish 2007, p819).
Market: New Zealand and exports of $1 m to Australia, Japan and Korea.
Status and sustainable yield
Status: Unknown.
Annual catch limit: Set at 2,155 tonnes in 2004-05.
Recorded catch: Reported landings of 1,157 tonnes in 2005-06, around 75% as bycatch in trawl fisheries, the lowest catch in 10 years.
Population size: Unknown.
Stock trends: Unknown but in SPE3 CPUE has declined in a range of fisheries between 1998/1999 and 2002/03.
Fishing method
Method: Trawler and line vessel bycatch.
Habitat damage: Bottom trawling impacts on habitats and bottom dwelling species.
Bycatch: The bycatch in these fisheries includes marine mammals and seabirds.
Ecological effects: Impact of bottom trawls on bottom dwelling species and diversity.
Management
Stock assessment: No quantitative stock assessment.
Management plan: No.
Quota Management Species: Yes, since 1998.
Biology
Distribution: Occurs widely around New Zealand at depths of 40–1,200m but is most common around the South Island.
Maximum age (years): 40
Age at sexual maturity: Unknown.
Growth rate: Relatively slow.
Reproductive output: Low.
Size/age exploited: 20-30cm or 5-20 years old.
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 | 
