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Seafood with Concerns
Skipjack tuna
Scientific name: Katsuwonus pelamis
Other names: None
Ranking: D (Amber - Concerns) |
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Description: Predominantly caught by purse seine vessels operating North of New Plymouth and Hawke Bay. The New Zealand catch is a small part of the Pacific fishery which is now managed by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission.
The main concerns with this fishery are: uncertainty about the state of the stocks, the bycatch of sharks plus the lack of a stock assessment, catch limits or a management plan.
The fishery assessment plenary report states: “There are currently no concerns regarding to this stock though there are concerns that any increases in fishing effort could adversely [affect] bigeye and yellowfin tuna. The stock is presently above the level necessary to produce the maximum sustainable yield. Current catches from the stock are likely sustainable.” (MFish 2007, p838).
Market: Main market is for canning outside New Zealand mainly in Indonesia and Thailand. The export value of skipjack tuna was about $10 million.
Status and sustainable yield
Status: Uncertain but likely to above Bmsy.
Annual catch limit: It is not part of the quota management system (QMS) and no catch limits are set for New Zealand.
Recorded catch: Latest reported annual landings in 2006 of 7247 tonnes inside the zone with another 9,543 tonnes caught by New Zealand flagged vessels on the high seas.
Population size: South Pacific migratory population.
Stock trends: Uncertain.
Fishing method
Method: Predominantly purse seine fishery around the North Island with some troll caught fish.
Habitat damage: Low.
Bycatch: The bycatch of bigeye and yellowfin tuna is a concern in the Pacific fishery.
Ecological effects: Impact on large tuna taken as bycatch.
Management
Stock assessment: A South Pacific assessment in 2005 (Langley et al 2005).
Management plan: No.
Quota Management Species: No, nor is there a catch limit or Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ).
Biology
Distribution: Skipjack tuna are caught on the west and East coasts of the North Islands, mainly north of New Plymouth and Hawke Bay.
Maximum age (years): 12
Age at sexual maturity: 1
Growth rate: Medium.
Reproductive output: Medium.
Age exploited: 1
References: Overview of the Western and Central Pacific Ocean Tuna Fisheries, 2000, A Lewis and P Williams, Oceanic Fisheries Programme, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, New Caledonia, August 2001; National Tuna Fishery Report 2001 Ð New Zealand, T Murray and L Griggs, NIWA; Langley A, Hampton J and Ogura M 2005. Stock Assessment of skipjack tuna in the western and central Pacific Ocean. SC-1 SA-WP-4. First meeting of the WCPFC-Scientific Committee, Noumea, New Caledonia. Report from the Fishery Assessment Plenary, May 2007: stock assessments and yield estimates. Part 1: Albacore to Groper. Sullivan et al, 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 | 
