Seafood with Concerns Tarakihi Scientific name: Nemadactylus macropterus Other names: Ocean bream, silver bream, morwong (Australia) Ranking: D (Amber - Concerns)

Icon Explanations

The main concerns with this fishery are: the habitat damage caused by trawling, the long-term status of the stocks, the lack of some basic biological data, the uncertainty over stock boundaries, the over-catch in TAR2, bycatch of other fish species, the absence of quantitative stock assessments and the lack of a management plan.

The fishery assessment plenary report states: For all fishstocks combined: "Given the long, stable catch history of this fishery, current catch levels and TACCs [total allowable commercial catches] are thought to be sustainable. However, for all Fishstocks it is not known if the current TACCs and recent catch levels will allow the stocks to move towards a size that will support the maximum sustainable yield." Additional comments: TAR1: "Based on relatively stable indices of abundance current catches and the TACC for TAR1 appear to be sustainable." TAR2 : "An abundance index has increased consistently since 1990/91 suggest[ing] that the current TACC (little change since 1988/89) is sustainable." TAR3 : "For TAR3 estimates made in the mid 1980s indicated that F was less than F0.1. These estimates are probably still relevant due to the long, stable catch history in these areas. Levels of F near or below F0.1 are generally considered sustainable. The increasing trend in the CPUE index (1989/90 - 2001/02) further indicates that current TACC and catch levels are sustainable. " TAR4 : "the fishery around the Chatham Islands has generally been lightly fished and the stock can probably support higher catch levels for the next few years." (MFish 2007, p966).

Market: New Zealand, Japan and Australia. Export value of $0.8 million.

Status and sustainable yield
Status: Unknown.
Annual catch limit: Set at 6,438 tonnes in 2007-08.
Recorded catch: Reported landings of 6,205 tonnes in 2005-06, the largest reported catch.
Population size: Unknown.
Stock trends: Unknown but thought to be stable.

Fishing method
Method: Trawling.
Habitat damage: Impact of trawling reduces species diversity and habitat.
Bycatch: Tarakihi is a bycatch in the red cod and barracouta fisheries around the South Island which includes a bycatch of other fish species..
Ecological effects: Impact of trawling on species diversity and habitat.

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

Biology
Distribution: Occurs around New Zealand but mostly in the cooler waters south of East Cape and around the South Island.
Maximum age (years): 40+
Age at sexual maturity: 4-6
Growth rate: Moderate.
Reproductive output: Low to high.
Age exploited: 3-4

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 6 November, 2005