The Resource Centre is an extensive library of documents, data and links relevant to fisheries management and Rescue Fish. Browse using the links below, and click the triangle button to explore subsections.
Disturbance of the marine benthic habitat by commercial fishing: Impacts at the scale of the fishery. This study from the Hauraki Gulf was the first in the world to show changes in seafloor biodiversity at the scale of the fishery.
Download > (pdf, 2.44 MB)Plenary document outlining known facts and catch statistics for hāpuku and bass fish stocks in New Zealand. Fisheries New Zealand. May 2020
Download > (pdf, 497.61 KB)Fisheries Assessment Plenary. Stock assessments and stock status. Volume 3. Red cod to yellow-eyed mullet. MPI. May 2020.
Download > (pdf, 16.70 MB)Fisheries Assessment Plenary. Stock assessments and stock status. Volume 2. Hoki to redbait. MPI. May 2020
Download > (pdf, 15.89 MB)Fisheries Assessment Plenary. Stock assessments and stock status. Volume 1. Alfonsino to Hake. May 2020.
Download > (pdf, 22.40 MB)Analysis of fishing and catches taken from the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park are discussed on pages 38 to 47 of the latest State of our Gulf report, 2020. Hauraki Gulf Forum.
Download > (pdf, 13.87 MB)Benthic habitat classes and trawl fishing disturbance in New Zealand waters shallower than 250 metres. NZ Aquatic Environment and Biodiversity Report No.144. Ministry for Primary Industries. January 2015
Download > (pdf, 11.09 MB)A heat map showing the trawl footprint around New Zealand for the years 2007/08 to 2011/12. Five years of data. Per square kilometre. Source: Ministry for Primary Industries.
Download > (pdf, 305.58 KB)Paper published by the Fisheries Research journal – Estimating marine recreational fishing’s contributions in New Zealand. Paper outlines the need for reliable economic insights into the contribution that recreational fishing makes to the New Zealand economy. These data can contribute to management decisions and conservation of marine resources. Paper by R. Southwick et al.
Download > (pdf, 271.00 KB)
A report summarising the economic contribution that fishing related recreation makes at a national and regional level in New Zealand. Report by international experts Southwick Associates. Report commissioned by the New Zealand Marine Research Foundation and published in 2016.
Download > (pdf, 4.47 MB)
Article in NZ Herald. Leading marine scientists including Professor Liz Slooten and Professor Steve Dawson say that New Zealand is “failing miserably” when it comes to fisheries management. June 2017.
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Analysis of the New Zealand Marine Research Foundation’s report on the contributions that recreational fishing makes to the New Zealand economy. Interview with Foundation chairman Jeff Romeril. Article from Stuff. 8 April 2016.
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Article on Stuff. Toheroa was a favourite NZ seafood delicacy of the 1900s. It was vastly over-caught and harvesting was banned in the 1970s. In the decades since it has not recovered. Researchers seem to think there are multiple reasons why toheroa are not abundant now. 4 March 2019.
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Research into the benefits provided by the Hauraki Gulf and the total economic value of those benefits, including fishing. This includes analysis of the economic and environmental benefits and values. Research by Auckland Council as part of its long-term project – the Total Economic Valuation Project. November 2012.
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A report for the Ministry for Primary Industries on the outcomes from applying various rebuild strategies to the east coast tarakihi fishery. BERL developed five different rebuild scenarios to project the impact on the stock over a 20 year period. Report by BERL for MPI. August 2018.
Download > (pdf, 1.46 MB)
A presentation demonstrating the former abundance of marine life that could be found at Doubtless Bay, Northland. This 53 page presentation is by former teacher and historian Mary Ralph. The evidence is in the form of records, maps, photos, interviews and recollections.
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This Te Ara encyclopaedia entry provides a brief, one page history of NZ seafood. Fish, crayfish, squid, kina , tuatua, oysters , cockles and pipi are all mentioned. This interesting article provides a rare insight into New Zealanders’ changing attitudes towards seafood. David Burton. 5 September 2013.
Download > (pdf, 77.64 KB)
Review of commercial fishery interactions and population dynamics for the oceanic whitetip shark , a protected species in NZ waters. Report by Francis & Lyon. Prepared for Department of Conservation. June 2014.
Download > (word, 258.59 KB)
Leading NZ marine scientists Liz Slooten and Steve Dawson comment on how irresponsible fishing is endangering New Zealand’s sea lions and Hector’s dolphins. NZ Herald article. 26 June 2006.
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The health of our marine ecosystem, its resilience in the face of global climate change, and effectiveness of our fisheries management are profoundly compromised by the processes used to assess stocks and set total catch limits. Professor Steve Dawson, Head of Marine Science at Otago University, explores key issues regarding fisheries management in New Zealand […]
Download > (pdf, 1.81 MB)
World leading academics critique New Zealand’s Quota Management System. The team of fisheries experts have debunked the claim that NZ has a world leading system for sustainably managing fisheries. Glen Simmons, Nigel Haworth and Liz Slooten et al. Article on the University of Auckland website. 15 June 2017.
Open Link >Twelve experts say there is evidence of bias in a recent assessment of fisheries management practices in New Zealand. Letter to the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA (PNAS). 20 June 2017.
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An economic analysis of the New Zealand seafood industry by Coriolis Research. This report draws conclusions on potential industry strategic directions and highlights opportunities for future investment. October 2011. Report for the Ministry of Fisheries and other government departments. This report forms part of the wider Food & Beverage Information Project and will be updated […]
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Analysis of the economic contribution of the New Zealand recreational billfish fishery in 2000 to 2001. Report for NZ Marine Research Foundation. Prepared by Kingett Mitchell, AC Nielson and Blue Water Marine Research. September 2002. The recreational marlin fishery in New Zealand is unique in that there are accurate club records for at least 95% […]
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Analysis of the economic contribution of commercial fishing, excluding aquaculture, to the New Zealand economy. This report was commissioned by Fisheries Inshore New Zealand Limited (FINZ). Report published in August 2017. FINZ is an organisation established by quota owners, annual catch entitlement (ACE) holders and commercial fishers to facilitate these groups working together to advocate […]
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Westpac report the fishing, aquaculture and seafood sector is experiencing falling employment, lacklustre long-term export revenue growth, and increasing challenges over fish allocations. There is strong growth potential in new techniques such as Precision Seafood Harvesting and value add. The social licence to operate is under scrutiny and more needs to be done to show […]
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A summary of the results of a survey to measure peoples’ views on the management and future of New Zealand’s inshore and offshore marine fisheries. Report by Horizon Research. January 2019. The survey found large numbers of New Zealanders are significantly unaware of key facts about the fisheries and ways in which they are managed. […]
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The Environmental Defence Society has released a book, Voices from the Sea. This is an in-depth investigation into New Zealand’s fisheries management system. The book concludes that inshore fisheries need a radical shake up. EDS. 10 April 2018. For those wanting to better understand how commercial fishing operates in NZ under the Quota Management System, […]
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A leaked report reveals New Zealand’s commercial fishing companies are under-reporting their catches. Doubts have been raised about the sustainability of these fisheries and practices after revelations about widespread dumping of catches. Greenpeace released the report written by the Ministry of Fisheries in 2011. NZ Herald article. 24 May 2016.
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Crayfish numbers are so low in the Hauraki Gulf they are now considered ‘functionally extinct’. The number of crayfish in the Leigh marine reserve are less than that recorded outside the reserve in 1995. Experts are calling for an overhaul of crayfish management. Article for Stuff. 31 August 2016.
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This report summarises the results of a survey of 1,000 Maori aged 18+ on current and possible fisheries management policies. Report June 2019. The results indicate that an overwhelming majority of Maori think New Zealand’s fisheries need to be reformed. As the survey contained policy ideas, results are also reported by party vote.
Download > (pdf, 951.29 KB)
This report summarises the results of a survey of New Zealand adults’ views on current and possible fisheries management policies. Report June 2019. The survey found large numbers of New Zealanders are significantly unaware of key facts about the fisheries and ways in which they are managed. As the survey contained policy ideas, results are […]
Download > (pdf, 949.51 KB)