Review of Sustainability Measures for Southern Blue Whiting (SBW 6B) for 2022/23 - December 2021
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Review of Sustainability Measures for Southern Blue Whiting (SBW 6B) for 2022/23 Fisheries NZ Discussion Paper No: 2021/28 ISBN No: 978-1-99-101995-0 (online) ISSN No: 2624-0165 (online) December 2021
Disclaimer While every effort has been made to ensure the information in this publication is accurate, Fisheries New Zealand does not accept any responsibility or liability for error of fact, omission, interpretation or opinion that may be present, nor for the consequences of any decisions based on this information. © Crown Copyright – Fisheries New Zealand
Contents Page
1 Stock being reviewed 1
2 Summary 1
3 About the stock 2
4 Status of the stock 4
5 Catch information and current settings within the TAC 6
5.1 Commercial 6
5.2 Customary Māori 6
5.3 Recreational 6
5.4 Other sources of mortality caused by fishing 7
6 Treaty of Waitangi obligations 7
6.1 Input and participation of tāngata whenua 7
6.2 Kaitiakitanga 7
7 Current and proposed settings within the TAC 8
7.1 Option 1 – status quo 8
7.2 Option 2 8
7.3 Option 3 8
8 Environmental interactions 9
21.1 Marine Mammals 9
8.2 Seabirds 9
8.3 Fish bycatch 10
8.4 Benthic impacts 10
8.5 Habitats of particular significance for fisheries management 12
9 Relevant plans, strategies, statements and context 12
9.1 Regional Plans 12
9.2 Regional plan 13
9.3 Te Mana o te Taiao (Aotearoa New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy) 13
10 Economic considerations 13
11 Deemed values 14
12 Uncertainties and risks 14
13 Questions for submitters 14
14 How to get more information and have your say 15
15 Legal basis for managing fisheries in New Zealand 15
16 Referenced reports 15
i
1 Stock being reviewed
Southern blue whiting (SBW 6B) - Bounty
Platform
Micromesistius australis
Figure 1: Quota Management Areas (QMAs) for southern blue whiting, with SBW 6B highlighted in blue. A southern
blue whiting is pictured on the left.
2 Summary
1. Fisheries New Zealand (FNZ) is reviewing the sustainability measures for southern blue whiting
(SBW) in Quota Management Area (QMA) SBW 6B (Bounty Platform) for the 1 April 2022
fishing year (Figure 1).
2. Southern blue whiting is a Tier 1 1 commercial species, found from the Chatham Rise south but
most abundant in sub-Antarctic waters.
3. Southern blue whiting was introduced to the Quota Management System (QMS) on 1 November
1999 for the 1999/00 fishing year (1 April until 31 March). The current Total Allowable Catch
(TAC) of 2,888 tonnes set in 2020/21 includes an allowance of 58 tonnes for other mortality
caused by fishing, zero allowances for customary and recreational fishing, and a 2,830 tonne
Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC).
4. The best available information indicates that there has not been significant recruitment into the
fishery since 2012. On that basis, FNZ proposes two options to reduce the TAC and TACC to
ensure the fishery remains sustainable (Table 1).
5. There is no customary Māori or recreational take of southern blue whiting and it is proposed to
retain zero allowances for these sectors. FNZ proposes to maintain the allowance for all other
mortality caused by fishing (such as loss of fish from torn or burst fishing nets) at approximately
2% of the TACC. There are no proposals to change the deemed value rates.
1
Tier 1 fisheries are high volume and/or high value fisheries and are typically targeted. They deliver significant export revenue,
which is reflected in the high quota value associated with these species.
Fisheries New Zealand Review of sustainability measures 1 April 2022: SBW6B • 1Table 1: Proposed management options (in tonnes) for southern blue whiting (SBW 6B) from 1 April 2022.
Allowances
Option TAC TACC Customary All other mortality
Recreational
Māori caused by fishing
Option 1 (Status quo) 2,888 2,830 0 0 58
Option 2 2,309 (579 t) 2,264 (566 t) 0 0 45 (13 t)
Option 3 2,021 (867 t) 1,981 (849 t) 0 0 40 (18 t)
6. Fisheries New Zealand welcomes feedback and submissions from stakeholders on these
options.
3 About the stock
3.1 Fishery characteristics
7. The southern blue whiting fishery at the Bounty Platform targets spawning aggregations from
mid-August to early September, that tend to move in an anticlockwise direction around the
Bounty Islands (Figure 2).
8. New Zealand’s southern blue whiting stocks are characterised by highly variable recruitment,
often referred to as year class strength. Very strong year classes are observed infrequently and
are separated by longer periods of average or below average recruitment (Figure 3). The year
classes from strong recruitment events can dominate the population and persist in the catch for
over 20 years. The 2002 year class was very strong and comprised 40% of the commercial
catch proportion-at-age in 2020.
9. Southern blue whiting fisheries have very low levels of bycatch of other fish species (Figure 3: Commercial catch proportions-at-age for the Bounty Platform stock, 1990-2020. Year classes can be
tracked on the diagonal, with recent dominant year classes highlighted by solid red lines. 5
3.2 Biology
10. Southern blue whiting (Micromesistius australis) is a relatively productive species that is
generally confined to depths of 250 m to 600 m in New Zealand’s sub-Antarctic waters.
11. Southern blue whiting grow quickly. Fish reach a length of approximately 20 cm fork length
within the first year and 30 cm after two years. Fish in the spawning fishery range between 35
cm and 50 cm in length and are aged to be between 3 years and a maximum of 20-25 years
old. Females are larger than males. Growth slows after five years and almost ceases after ten
years. The maximum recorded length for southern blue whiting is 58 cm.
12. Southern blue whiting reach maturity between two and four years of age. At this age, they
recruit to the spawning grounds (and the commercial fishery) for the first time. The age of first
spawning is observed to be delayed in the strong year classes, which show signs of a density
dependent response to high abundance, through slower growth and a higher age at maturity.
Strong year classes have slower individual growth rates because a larger number of fish are
competing for the same amount of resources.
13. Adult southern blue whiting form dense spawning aggregations at four known locations across
the sub-Antarctic (Auckland Islands, Campbell Plateau, Pukaki Rise, and Bounty Platform).
These four spawning locations represent four distinct biological stocks. The catch on the Bounty
Platform is dominated by the 2002, 2007, and 2012 year-classes. The cause of recruitment
fluctuations is poorly understood, but strong year classes can produce large increases in
available southern blue whiting biomass.
3.3 Management background
14. Southern blue whiting entered the QMS on 1 November 1999. The fishing year (1 April to 31
March) reflects the timing of the fishing season.
15. As a high volume fishery, southern blue whiting is managed within the National Fisheries Plan
for Deepwater and Middle-depth Fisheries 2019 as a Tier 1 stock. A Southern Blue Whiting
Fisheries Plan was finalised in 2011. The Fisheries Plan details the management approach and
operational objectives for the fishery. The southern blue whiting fishery, including fish harvested
5
Large et al (2021). Review and summary of the time series of input data available for the assessment of southern blue whiting.
Fisheries New Zealand Review of sustainability measures 1 April 2022: SBW6B • 3from SBW 6B, has been certified as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council since April
2012. 6
16. The most recent review of the Bounty Platform fishery reduced the TAC by 10% for the 1 April
2020 fishing year because a review indicated that the SBW 6B fish stock had not experienced
recruitment of a strong year class since 2012.
17. The management approach for SBW 6B employs regular local area aggregation surveys as a
key source of information for the estimation of stock status. From 2004 to 2017, a series of
acoustic surveys were successfully carried out by industry vessels fishing at the Bounty
Platform in August/September. These surveys enabled regular biomass monitoring and TAC
and TACC reviews. However, due to logistical issues (bad weather, timing and inability to locate
a stable spawning aggregation), no biomass estimate has been available from a survey since
2017.
4 Status of the stock
18. The current reference points for southern blue whiting are the default targets and limits set out
within the Harvest Strategy Standard for New Zealand Fisheries 7 as described in Table 2. The
management target of 40% B0 8 is considered to be a conservative proxy for BMSY for a species
with the life history characteristics of southern blue whiting.
Table 2: Southern blue whiting default reference points and the associated management response.
Reference point Management response
Management target of 40% Stock permitted to fluctuate around this management target.
B0 TAC changes will be employed to move stock toward or above target.
A formal time constrained rebuilding plan will be implemented if this limit
Soft limit of 20% B0
is reached.
Hard limit of 10% B0 The limit below which fisheries will be considered for closure.
19. A management strategy evaluation was completed for SBW 6B in December 2016 which used
simulation modelling to test the fishing mortality level that would be most appropriate to maintain
(or recover) the stock to BMSY and to maintain the stock above 20% B0 at least 90% of the time.
A ‘Harvest Control Rule’ is applied which estimates the annual sustainable yield based on the
biomass estimate from the acoustic survey.
20. Without a successful acoustic survey being completed since 2017, more emphasis is put on
monitoring large recruitment events in this fish stock. The majority of fish caught by the SBW 6B
fishery in recent years have come from three strong year classes; 2002, 2007 and 2012. Fish
age information from the SBW 6B fishery suggests that there has not been a significant
recruitment event between 2012 and 2020 (Figure 3).
21. Results from age analysis 9 between 2015 – 2020 are presented in Figure 4 and indicate that the
fishery is being supported by strong older year classes. For instance, the 2002 year class (fish
that are now 19 years old) will become less prominent in the fishery in the next few years as fish
naturally die (the maximum age for southern blue whiting is around 25 years old) and they
continue to be harvested.
6
For more information about the Marine Stewardship Council and its certification processes, refer to https://www.msc.org/
7
Harvest Strategy Standard for New Zealand Fisheries 2008
8
Virgin biomass, unfished biomass
9
Ibid
4 • Review of sustainability measures April 2022: SBW6B Fisheries New ZealandFigure 4: Commercial catch proportions at length (left) and at age (right) for SBW 6B by sex 2015-2020. Males
(orange colour), females (green colour). 10
22. Fish lengths from 2017 to 2020 have a distribution centered around 40 cm for males and 45 cm
for females 11 (Figure 4). In the past, there has been a broader spread of lengths corresponding
to different year classes in the fishery with fish lengths ranging from around 30 cm to 58 cm.
23. There is an indication of potential recruitment in fish length samples taken from the fishery in the
last three years. In 2019, small fish (between 17 cm and 21 cm in length) were caught and
subsequently aged as two-year old fish. This year class did not appear in sampling in 2020 but
has reappeared in 2021 (R. Saunders pers. comm. Figure 5). This pulse of fish (now distributed
around 30 cm in length) is the first potential signal of a stronger year class recruiting into the
fishery since 2012. However, as the data has not been fully analysed, the strength of the
recruitment is unknown.
Figure 5: Unscaled lengths from observer sampling of SBW 6B in 2021 (R.Saunders, NIWA, pers. comm.)
10
Adapted from Large et al (2021) Review and summary of the time series of input data available for the assessment of
southern blue whiting
11
Large et al (2021) Review and summary of the time series of input data available for the assessment of southern blue whiting
Fisheries New Zealand Review of sustainability measures 1 April 2022: SBW6B • 524. FNZ is proposing a reduction in the SBW 6B TAC as a cautious response to the best available
information to ensure the ongoing sustainability of the Bounty Platform southern blue whiting
stock.
5 Catch information and current settings within the TAC
5.1 Commercial
25. Catch in SBW 6B peaked at nearly 59,000 tonnes in 1991/92 (Figure 6). Since then, catches
have varied around 2,000 tonnes to 5,000 tonnes, until a large year class recruited to the fishery
in 2008/09. The total catch subsequently increased to almost 15,500 tonnes in 2009/10. Since
that peak, the biomass and catches have declined. Subsequently the TAC was also reduced.
26. Current information suggests that there has been a prolonged period without a large recruitment
event, indicating the need for caution in the management of this fishery. The current TACC is
2,830 tonnes (the previous TACC of 3,145 tonnes was reduced by 10% in 2020). Landings
have not been above 1,500 tonnes since 2017/18.
Figure 6: Reported commercial landings and TACC for the Bounty Platform fishery (SBW 6B) since 1988
5.2 Customary Māori
27. There is no known customary non-commercial fishing for southern blue whiting. The best
available information for Māori customary take is from reporting under the Fisheries (South
Island Customary Fishing) Regulations 1999. No permits have been issued under these
regulations and no southern blue whiting has been reported as customary catch. No section
186/186B measures (mātaitai, taiāpure, other closures) apply to SBW 6B.
28. FNZ proposes retaining a zero allowance for Māori customary take under all management
options as part of the current sustainability round.
5.3 Recreational
29. There has been no recreational take of southern blue whiting reported in SBW 6B. This is likely
because the fishery operates at depths of 250 m to 600 m in sub-Antarctic waters, 700 kms to
the south east of Stewart Island. FNZ proposes retaining a zero allowance for recreational take
under all management options.
6 • Review of sustainability measures April 2022: SBW6B Fisheries New Zealand5.4 Other sources of mortality caused by fishing
30. The allowance for other sources of mortality caused by fishing is intended to provide for
unrecorded mortality of fish associated with fishing activity, including incidental mortality from
fishing methods, or illegal fishing.
31. FNZ proposes maintaining the allowance for other sources of fishing related mortality at 2% of
the TACC. This equates to an allowance of 51 tonnes for other sources of fishing related
mortality under Option 2, and 45 tonnes under Option 3.
6 Treaty of Waitangi obligations
6.1 Input and participation of tāngata whenua
32. Input and participation into the sustainability decision-making process is provided through Iwi
Fisheries Forums, which have been established for that purpose. Each Iwi Fisheries Forum can
develop an Iwi Fisheries Forum Plan that describes how the iwi in the Forum exercise
kaitiakitanga over the fisheries of importance to them, and their objectives for the management
of their interest in fisheries. Particular regard must be given to kaitiakitanga when making
sustainability decisions.
33. Iwi Fisheries Forums may also be used as entities to consult iwi with an interest in fisheries. Not
all Iwi Fisheries Forums have an interest in this southern deepwater fish stock. The proposal to
review the southern blue whiting Bounty Platform stock was signalled at the 10 November 2021
Te Waka a Māui me Ōna Toka Iwi Fisheries Forum meeting. The forum supported a decrease
to the SBW 6B TACC and assigning of a nominal 1 tonne customary allowance.
34. It is not proposed to increase the customary allowance from zero at this time. However, if any
information regarding any customary take of southern blue whiting for this area is known, this
should be included in submissions. It should also be noted that even though the customary
allowance for this stock is set at zero, this does not preclude take of fish for customary
purposes, in accordance with customary fishing regulations.
6.2 Kaitiakitanga
35. The Te Waka a Māui me Ōna Toka Iwi Forum consider all fish species taonga.
36. The Te Waipounamu Iwi Forum Fisheries Plan contains objectives to support and provide for
the interests of South Island iwi which includes SBW 6B. Two objectives are relevant to the
management options proposed for SBW 6B:
• Management Objective 3: to develop environmentally responsible, productive,
sustainable, and culturally appropriate commercial fisheries that create long-term
commercial benefits and economic development opportunities for South Island iwi
• Management Objective 5: to restore, maintain and enhance the mauri and wairua of
fisheries throughout the South Island
37. FNZ considers the proposals for SBW 6B meet those objectives.
Fisheries New Zealand Review of sustainability measures 1 April 2022: SBW6B • 77 Current and proposed settings within the TAC
7.1 Option 1 – status quo
TAC: 2,888 (t) − TACC: 2,830 (t) − Customary: 0 − Recreational: 0 − Other mortality: 58 (t) −
38. Option 1 is the status quo. It retains the existing catch limits and allowances for 2022/23.
39. Retaining the status quo does not address the sustainability concern that a strong year class
has not recruited into the southern blue whiting Bounty Platform fish stock since 2012.
40. Option 1 provides utilisation opportunity noting that catch has not been at the level of the TACC
for a number of years.
7.2 Option 2
TAC: 2,309 (t) TACC: 2,264 (t) Customary: 0 − Recreational: 0 − Other mortality: 45 (t)
41. Option 2 reduces the TAC by 578 tonnes to 2,309 tonnes, reduces the TACC by 566 tonnes to
2,264 tonnes and reduces the allowance for other mortality caused by fishing by 13 tonnes to
45 tonnes.
42. This option would reduce the potential sustainability risk associated with current management
settings. The biomass of southern blue whiting at the Bounty Platform will reduce as the three
strong year classes in the fishery approach the maximum age for southern blue whiting. Option
2 will address concerns about the lack of strong recruitment into the fishery by ensuring that
catch does not increase significantly to the level of the current TAC and TACC.
43. Option 2 reduces the TACC by 20%. Note that in the four years since 2017/18, catch has not
been taken at the level of the TACC, with the average catch in SBW 6B around 924 tonnes
each year.
44. The allowance for all other mortality caused by fishing would remain at 2% of the TACC under
this option.
45. There is no known customary or recreational take of southern blue whiting because of the
distance of the fishery from the South Island. FNZ, therefore, proposes retaining a zero
allowance for Māori customary take and recreational take under this option.
7.3 Option 3
TAC: 2,021 (t) TACC: 1,981 (t) Customary: 0 − Recreational: 0 − Other mortality: 40 (t)
46. Option 3 reduces the TAC by 867 tonnes to 2,021 tonnes, reduces the TACC by 849 tonnes to
1,981 tonnes and reduces the allowance for other mortality caused by fishing by 18 tonnes to
40 tonnes.
47. This proposal to reduce the TACC by 30% is a more precautionary approach to the
sustainability risk associated with current management settings than either Option 1 or Option 2.
It will further alleviate concerns that a strong recruitment event has not taken place in the last
decade.
48. The annual acoustic survey is undertaken by quota holders under agreement to deploy a
commercial vessel for this purpose. A TACC at the level of 1,981 tonnes is considered to
provide sufficient ACE for the acoustic survey to be undertaken. However, it may increase the
risk of the survey being shortened if insufficient ACE is available to support the required fishing
activity to support the survey.
49. The allowance for all other mortality caused by fishing would remain at 2% of the TACC under
this option.
8 • Review of sustainability measures April 2022: SBW6B Fisheries New Zealand50. There is no known customary or recreational take of southern blue whiting because of the
distance of the fishery from the South Island. FNZ, therefore, proposes retaining a zero
allowance for Māori customary take and recreational take under this option.
8 Environmental interactions
51. The key environmental interactions with this fishery, which must be taken into account when
considering sustainability measures, concern marine mammals, seabirds, fish and invertebrate
bycatch, benthic impacts, and habitats of particular significance for fisheries management.
5.3 Marine Mammals
52. The SBW 6B fishery overlaps with the foraging range of New Zealand fur seals which breed on
the Bounty Islands.
53. Observer coverage of the SBW 6B fishery has been very high since 2012/13 (~100%). In the
four years since 2017, an average of seven fur seals have been caught annually in SBW 6B.
The capture rate is high at 0.34 fur seals per tow (34 fur seals per 100 tows).
54. There is little information on the recent population size and trend of New Zealand fur seals at
the Bounty Islands 12. The last survey, in 1994, estimated that the total fur seal population on the
Bounty Islands was 21,500 individuals 13.
55. The Department of Conservation classify the New Zealand fur seal population as ‘Not
Threatened – least concern’. The total fur seal population in New Zealand was estimated to be
over 200,000 animals in the last survey in 2001 14. The fur seal population is considered to be
increasing in both abundance and distribution.
56. To minimise the risk of marine mammal captures, Deepwater Group 15 developed Marine
Mammal Operational Procedures (MMOP) for all trawlers greater than 28 m in length. The
MMOP describes a range of procedures that a crew should follow to reduce the risk of marine
mammal captures. FNZ monitors and audits vessel performance against the MMOP via the FNZ
Observer Programme.
8.2 Seabirds
57. The ‘National Plan of Action Seabirds 2020’ guides management of seabird interactions with
New Zealand fisheries. It employs a systematic risk assessment framework. The risk
assessment identifies seabird species and fisheries associated with the highest risk and
monitors changes in risk status over time.
58. Southern blue whiting trawl was estimated as ‘low risk’ to seabirds with a total mean risk
estimated between 0.0 and 0.1 16.
59. Observer coverage has been very high in the SBW 6B fishery between 2012/13 and 2019/20
(~100%). Seabird interactions have occurred at a low rate over this period with an average of ~
two seabirds caught annually. The species caught over this period were either Salvin’s
albatross or grey petrels.
60. Salvin’s albatross have a high risk of capture from commercial fisheries in New Zealand (a
median risk ratio of 0.65), mostly from inshore trawl and hoki trawl fishing effort. Salvin’s
albatross have a threat classification of Threatened – Nationally Critical (data poor, range
restricted).
12
Rexer-Huber K and Parker (2020). Bounty Islands drone trials: feasibility for population assessment of NZ fur seal.
13
Taylor RH (1996) Distribution, abundance and pup production of the New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri Lesson) at
the Bounty Islands
14 Accessible at: http://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/marine-mammals/seals/nz-fur-seal/
15
Deepwater Group is the industry body which represents 87% of SBW 6B quota holders.
16Richard, Y.; Abraham, E.; Berkenbusch, K. (2020). Assessment of the risk of commercial fisheries to New Zealand seabirds,
2006–07 to 2016–17
Fisheries New Zealand Review of sustainability measures 1 April 2022: SBW6B • 961. Grey petrels have a negligible risk of capture from commercial fisheries in New Zealand (a
median risk ratio of 0.03). Grey petrels have a threat classification of At Risk – Naturally
Uncommon (range restricted, secure overseas).
62. To reduce the risk of catching seabird, all vessels in SBW 6B deploy bird bafflers and/or tori
lines. In addition to the regulated mitigation requirements, non-regulatory measures include
industry-developed vessel-specific plans which set out practices that should be used onboard
vessels to reduce the risk of seabird interactions such as offal management and removing
‘stickers’ from trawl nets. FNZ has processes in place to audit performance against these
seabird mitigation measures. Annual performance is reported in the Deepwater Fisheries
Annual Review Report.
8.3 Fish bycatch
63. Southern blue whiting account for more than 99% of the total estimated catch in the southern
blue whiting target fishery, with very low levels of bycatch of other fish species. 17 Three species
in the QMS (hoki, hake and ling) account for nearly 60% of the total observed bycatch with
smaller amounts of porbeagle shark, jack mackerel, rattails, Ray’s bream and silverside. Non-
target catch in the fishery will continue to be monitored.
8.4 Benthic impacts and management measures
64. Trawling for southern blue whiting in SBW 6B can interact with the seabed and the associated
benthic environment. The nature and extent of those impacts depends on a range of factors
such as seabed type (e.g., mud/sand/rock), gear type, types of organisms encountered and
oceanographic characteristics.
65. The general substrate of the Bounty Platform is bryozoan shell (calcareous) sand, and mud
(foraminiferal ooze) with areas of coral and sponge habitats along with various species of
molluscs, echinoderms, crustaceans, and other invertebrate species.
66. Contact of the trawl gear with the seabed can lead to bycatch of benthic organisms including
corals, sponges, and sea anemones. Southern blue whiting is generally targeted over a
relatively restricted area in SBW 6B using mainly mid-water trawl gear. Whilst this fishing
method can interact with the seabed and the associated benthic environment, it is generally
conducted high enough in the water column to avoid contact with the seabed.
67. There is significant interest from stakeholders on the impacts of trawling on benthic habitats,
and on organisms, particularly those providing structure like long-lived and slow-growing corals.
The incidental bycatch of benthic organisms by the southern blue whiting fleet is closely
monitored by high observer coverage and reported annually. Sessile benthic invertebrates are
rarely caught.
68. The impact of southern blue whiting tows on the benthic environment is monitored by assessing
the trawl footprint. The trawl footprint includes all bottom trawl and midwater trawl effort within
one metre of the seafloor. It is mapped annually in waters shallower than 1,600 m.
69. Between 1990 and 2019 the southern blue whiting trawl footprint was 1.7% of the fishable area
in the New Zealand EEZ. In the 2018/2019 fishing year the total southern blue whiting trawl
footprint was estimated to be 757 km2 or 0.2% of the fishable area (Figure 7). 18 The impact is
mitigated by the spatial concentration of the fishery where vessels typically trawl along
previously trawled tow lines.
17 Anderson, O.F. (2017) Fish and invertebrate bycatch in New Zealand deepwater fisheries from 1990–91 until 2013–14.
18 Baird and Mules (2021) Extent of bottom contact by commercial trawling and dredging in New Zealand waters, 1989–90 to 2018–19.
10 • Review of sustainability measures April 2022: SBW6B Fisheries New ZealandFigure 7: Distribution of the 1990–2019 (left) and the 2019 trawl footprint (right) for southern blue whiting, displayed
by 25-km2 contacted cell relative to the probability of southern blue whiting capture (adapted from Baird
and Mules 2021) 19. SBW6B footprint highlighted within black square.
70. Management measures to address the effects of trawl activity in New Zealand have been
achieved through closing areas to trawling. In 2001, 18 seamounts were closed to fishing
including Bollons Seamount which is within the SBW 6B. This is a closed area of seabed
(79,860 km2 in size) that was chosen as the only representative seamount in the eastern sub-
Antarctic, given it has never been trawled.
71. In addition to seamount closures, the implementation of Benthic Protection Areas (BPAs) in
2007 effectively closed approximately 30% of the NZ EEZ to bottom trawling. There are two
BPAs in SBW 6B; the Bounty Heritage which closes the 12 nautical mile territorial sea around
the Bounty Islands to trawling, and the Antipodes Transect which closes 57,166 km2 to trawling
south of the SBW 6B fishery (Figure 8).
72. Within the area covered by the Bounty Heritage BPA, the Moutere Hauriri/Bounty Islands
Marine Reserve was created in 2014, which covers 58% of the territorial sea around the Bounty
Islands.
Figure 8: Location of Bounty Heritage and Antipodes Transect Benthic Protection Areas
19
Ibid p. 43
Fisheries New Zealand Review of sustainability measures 1 April 2022: SBW6B • 118.5 Habitats of particular significance for fisheries management
Table 3: Summary of information on habitats of particular significance for fisheries management for stock.
Fish Stock SBW 6B
Habitat of particular Bounty Platform
significance
Attributes of habitat • Bounty Platform substrate and water column approximately 750 km
east/south east of the South Island
Reasons for particular • Spawning is of critical importance in supporting the productivity of fish stocks
significance • Spawning ground for southern blue whiting SBW 6B fish stock at Bounty
Platform, lasting from mid-August to early September
• Spawning takes place at this location potentially due to favourable
current/circulation patterns and oceanographic features
Risks/Threats • No offshore development activities are known or planned
• Oceanographic features could be impacted by extractive processes (e.g.
mining) but this is unlikely in this area
• Oceanographic features could be impacted by cable laying but laying of new
cables unlikely in FMA 6
• Long term current and circulation patterns could be impacted by climate
change (ocean warming, changes to wind patterns)
• It is currently unknown what conditions make habitat favourable for southern
blue whiting spawning, so it is also unknown to what extent fishing activity
impacts these habitats.
Existing protection • Bollons Seamount closed to all fishing in 2001
measures • Moutere Hauriri/Bounty Islands Marine Reserve created 2014
• Bounty Heritage and Antipodes Transect, Benthic Protected Areas, created in
2007
9 Relevant plans, strategies, statements, and context
73. The following plans and strategies are relevant for SBW 6B.
9.1 Regional Plans
74. Southern blue whiting is managed as a Tier 1 species within the National Fisheries Plan for
Deepwater and Middle-depth fisheries 2019 (National Deepwater Plan 2019) because they are
considered high volume and/or high value fisheries. A species-specific chapter of the National
Deepwater Plan for southern blue whiting was completed in 2011 and is scheduled to be
updated in 2022.
75. The National Deepwater Plan (2019) is a formally approved s11A plan which the Minister must
take into account when making sustainability decisions. It sets out a series of Management
Objectives for deepwater fisheries, the most relevant to SBW 6B being:
Management Objective 1: Ensure the deepwater and middle-depth fisheries resources
are managed so as to provide for the needs of future generations; and
Management Objective 4: Ensure deepwater and middle-depth fish stocks and key
bycatch fish stocks are managed to an agreed harvest strategy or reference points.
12 • Review of sustainability measures April 2022: SBW6B Fisheries New Zealand9.2 Regional plan
76. There are no Regional Councils that have a coastline within the SBW 6B boundary.
9.3 Te Mana o te Taiao (Aotearoa New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy)
77. Te Mana o te Taiao – the Aotearoa New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy sets a strategic direction
for the protection, restoration and sustainable use of biodiversity, particularly indigenous
biodiversity, in Aotearoa New Zealand. The Strategy sets a number of objectives across three
timeframes. The most relevant to setting sustainability measures for SBW 6B are objectives 10
and 12:
Objective 10: Ecosystems and species are protected, restored, resilient and connected
from mountain tops to ocean depths.
Objective 12: Natural resources are managed sustainably
78. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is undertaking work to define specific terms used in
the Strategy (e.g. ‘environmental limits’), but is required by the Fisheries Act to manage
fisheries to balance use and sustainability, including the requirement to avoid, remedy or
mitigate adverse effects on the aquatic environment. The Ecosystem Interactions section in this
paper provides information on relevant interactions with the wider aquatic environment for this
stock.
10 Economic considerations
79. Under Option 2, the TACC would decrease by 20% from 2,830 tonnes to 2,264 tonnes. On the
basis of the Free On Board (FOB) 20 export value of dressed southern blue whiting (96% by
landed weight) during the 2020 calendar year of NZ $1,640/tonne, this decrease would result in
a potential decrease in revenue of approximately $563,000 per year 21 if the entire current
TACC was caught (Table 4).
80. Under Option 3, the TACC would decrease by 30% from 2,830 tonnes to 1,981 tonnes. On the
basis of the FOB export value of dressed southern blue whiting during the 2020 calendar year
of NZ$1,640/tonne, this decrease would result in a potential decrease in export revenue of
approximately $844,000 per year 22 if the entire current TACC was caught (Table 4).
81. We note that in the four years since 2017/18, catch has not been taken at the level of the
TACC, with the mean annual catch in SBW 6B around 924 tonnes. If this level of catch
continues the actual loss is likely negligible.
Table 4: Predicted changes to commercial revenue for the proposed options, based on estimated average export
price in 2020 of $1,640/tonne for SBW 6B. 23
Option Change from current TACC Predicted export revenue
Stock
(tonnes) changes ($p.a.)
Option 2 566 $563,000
SBW 6B
Option 3 849 $844,000
20
Free on board. The value of export goods, including raw material, processing, packaging, storage and transportation up to the
point where the goods are about to leave the country as exports. FOB does not include storage, export transport or insurance
cost to get the goods to the export market.
21
This is based on an average unit value for dressed SBW of $1.64 kg during the 2020 calendar year and a conversion factor
for DRE of 1.65.
22
Ibid
23
Potential loss in revenue if current catch increased to the level of the TACC.
Fisheries New Zealand Review of sustainability measures 1 April 2022: SBW6B • 1311 Deemed values
82. Deemed values are the price paid by fishers for each kilogram of unprocessed fish landed in
excess of a fisher’s ACE holdings. The purpose of the deemed values regime is to provide
incentives for individual fishers to acquire or maintain sufficient ACE to cover catch taken over
the course of the year, while allowing flexibility in the timing of balancing, promoting efficiency,
and encouraging accurate catch reporting.
83. The Deemed Value Guidelines set out the operational policy Fisheries New Zealand uses to
inform the development of advice to the Minister on the setting of deemed values.
84. The deemed value rates for SBW 6B are shown in Table 5.
Table 5: Standard deemed value rates ($/kg) for SBW 6B.
Annual Differential Rates ($/kg) for excess catch (% of ACE)
Interim Rate
Annual
($/kg)
100-110% 110-130% 130-150% 150-170% 170-190% >190%
Status quo 0.41 0.46 0.60 0.60 0.92 0.92 0.92
85. The average price paid by fishers over the last five fishing years for one kilogram of SBW6B
ACE was $0.11. The port price index of SBW 6B since 2011/12 is $0.56.
86. There are no proposals to change the deemed value rates for southern blue whiting (SBW 6B).
12 Uncertainties and risks
87. The main uncertainty about the sustainability of the stock is that there is no estimate of current
biomass. The planned annual acoustic survey to monitor spawning stock abundance has not
been successful in the last four years and the harvest control rule has not been able to be
applied.
88. Samples of the length and age composition from the catch since 2017 provide some information
on the status of the SBW 6B fish stock. However, the length frequency data from 2020 and
2021 may not be representative and has not been reviewed by the Deepwater Fisheries
Assessment Working Group. As such, there is a need to take a precautionary approach towards
management of this stock.
13 Questions for submitters
• Which option do you support for revising the TAC and allowances? Why?
• If you do not support any of the options listed, what alternative(s) should be considered?
Why?
• Are the allowances for customary Māori, recreational and other sources of mortality
appropriate? Why?
• Do you think these options adequately provide for social, economic, and cultural wellbeing?
• Do you have any concerns about potential impacts of the proposed options on the aquatic
environment?
89. We welcome your views on these proposals. Please provide detailed information and sources to
support your views where possible.
14 • Review of sustainability measures April 2022: SBW6B Fisheries New Zealand14 How to get more information and have your say
90. Fisheries New Zealand invites you to make a submission on the proposals set out in this
discussion document. Consultation closes at 5pm on 8 February 2022.
91. Please see the Fisheries New Zealand sustainability consultation webpage
https://www.mpi.govt.nz/consultations/review-of-sustainability-measures-2022-april-round/
for related information, a helpful submissions template, and information on how to submit your
feedback. If you cannot access to the webpage or require hard copies of documents or any
other information, please email FMSubmissions@mpi.govt.nz.
15 Legal basis for managing fisheries in New Zealand
92. The Fisheries Act 1996 provides the legal basis for managing fisheries in New Zealand,
including the Minister’s responsibilities for setting and varying sustainability measures. See the
separate document Overview of legislative requirements and other considerations at
https://www.mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/48880 for more information.
16 Referenced reports
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91 until 2013–14. New Zealand Aquatic Environment and Biodiversity Report No. 181. 75 p.
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Fisheries New Zealand (2021). Fisheries Assessment Plenary, May 2021: stock assessments and
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Fisheries New Zealand (2011). Operational Guidelines for New Zealand’s Harvest Strategy Standard.
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Fisheries New Zealand Review of sustainability measures 1 April 2022: SBW6B • 15Richard, Y.; Abraham, E.; Berkenbusch, K. (2020). Assessment of the risk of commercial fisheries to
New Zealand seabirds, 2006–07 to 2016–17. New Zealand Aquatic Environment and
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Thompson, F.N.; Abraham, E.R. (2010). Estimation of fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri) bycatch in New
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16 • Review of sustainability measures April 2022: SBW6B Fisheries New ZealandYou can also read
