Seafood to Avoid Stargazer/Monkfish Scientific name: Kathetostoma giganteum Other names: kourepoua, moamoa, ngu (Maori), monkfish, giant stargazer, bulldog Ranking: E (Red - Worst Choice)

Icon Explanations

The main concerns with this fishery are:the unknown sustainability of some catch levels and limits, the habitat destruction caused by bottom trawling, non-target fish bycatch, and seabirds and marine mammal bycatch, the uncertainty over stock boundaries, the absence of quantitative stock assessments for any areas and the lack of a management plans.

The fishery assessment plenary report states: "No estimates of current or reference biomass are available." For all stocks except STA7: "It is not known if recent catch levels and the current TACC [total allowable commercial catch] are sustainable in the long-term, or whether they are at levels that will allow the stock to move towards a size that would support the maximum sustainable yield." Additional comments: STA1 : Recent catch exceed that TACC. STA2 : The 1997 assessment suggested that exploitation rate was very highÉLandings have been slightly above the [reduced] TACC in recent years. STA3 : "Relative biomass indices from the annual trawl survey of the western end of the Chatham Rise have remained stable." STA4 : "Recent catches are substantially less than the TACC; the stock appears to have been lightly fished and is still likely to be in the fishing down phase." STA5 : The [current] TACC is at the level of recent catches, and is probably sustainable." STA7 : "Despite the biomass index from the 2003 trawl survey being 41% below the average biomass index between 1992-97, the results of a preliminary stock assessment suggest that STA7 is at or above the level that will support the MSY." (MFish 2007, p934-935)

Market: Domestic and exports of about $8 million mainly to Japan, Latvia and Germany

Status and sustainable yield
Status: Unknown.
Annual catch limit: Set at 5,117 tonnes in 2002-03.
Recorded catch: Reported landings of 3606 tonnes in 2005-06.
Population size: Unknown.
Stock trends: Unknown but STA 7 has seen a decline in the trawl survey index of 41% since 1992-1997.

Fishing method
Method: Trawling.
Habitat damage: Impact of bottom trawling on bottom habitat and species.
Bycatch: Startgazer is a bycatch in red cod, tarakihi, flatfish, barracouta and scampi fisheries, which includes seabirds and marine mammals.
Ecological effects: Impact of trawling (especially for the scampi fishery) on invertebrate species abundance and habitat.

Management
Stock assessment: No quantitative stock assessment.
Management plan: No.
Quota Management Species: Yes, since 1986.

Biology
Distribution: Moderately common in shelf waters around southern New Zealand at depths of 60-600m.
Maximum age (years): 26
Age at sexual maturity: 3
Growth rate: Moderate.
Reproductive output: Medium to high.
Age exploited: 2-3

This page was updated on 10 November, 2007