Science Centres: Fisheries

FV Thomas Harrison

The Deepwater Stakeholders Group (DSG) has commissioned NIWA to survey orange roughy populations in the Challenger area, at the edge of the New Zealand EEZ northwest of Nelson.

NIWA successfully completed the first of three surveys in 2005. The key objective was to obtain independent information on the state of the stock, which had not been surveyed since 1992. We will conduct the second survey in late June, using a combination of acoustic and trawl sampling, from chartered commercial fishing vessel, Thomas Harrison.

This fishery has suffered changing fortunes since its instigation in 1981. Catches increased throughout the 1980s, then were reduced in the 1990s when assessments indicated the stock had fallen below a sustainable level. The fishery was closed in 2000 as a precautionary measure to promote stock rebuilding.

DSG spokesman George Clement says they are ‘pleased to have scientists working alongside fishermen to better understand fishery resources’, adding that ‘it’s important to use credible independent science service providers such as NIWA.’