Fisheries - News

Science Centres: Fisheries

Summer Series 3: Rock lobster with your summer salad
10 January 2012

They don't have a voice – but they do make sounds.

In search of fish food on the Chatham Rise
2 November 2011

NIWA's research vessel Tangaroa will set sail for the Chatham Rise tonight to improve our understanding of how marine ecosystems affect commercially exploited fish, and how commercial fisheries affect the marine food-web. The Chatham Rise, a large plateau between the South Island and Chatham Islands, is our most productive fishing ground.

Watershed book from freshwater fisheries expert
11 October 2011

A landmark publication by New Zealand's most distinguished freshwater fish expert, Dr R. M. (Bob) McDowall, was released posthumously this week.

It’s good news about the oyster industry at the Bluff Oyster Festival this week
18 May 2011

The oyster season runs until the end of August this year and so far the news is all good for oyster fishers and oyster lovers.

Marine Reserves Survey
8 April 2011

If you would like to contribute to a Victoria University study about marine reserves in New Zealand please complete these surveys for Taputeranga marine reserve and Kapiti marine reserve.
This research is being performed by a PHD student at Victoria University and is not related to NIWA. However, we support the aims of the research and are happy to provide a link from our site to promote a good response to the survey.

Fiordland blue cod: “Smile – you’re on baited-underwater-video”
4 April 2011

NIWA marine scientists will use baited-underwater-video (BUV) to assess blue cod stocks in Fiordland this week. It's the first time this unique way of monitoring fish stocks has been used in the fiords.

Tagged juvenile tarakihi to teach us about nursery habitats
31 March 2011

During late March and April, NIWA fisheries scientists will be tagging hundreds of juvenile tarakihi in Tasman and Golden Bays, in an effort to learn more about their nursery habits and habitat.

Stay at home snapper
8 March 2011

NIWA studies reveal that different movement and behaviours exist within snapper stock – some snapper stay at home, while some range for hundreds of kilometres. Our studies also show that marine reserves may well be affecting the behaviour of fish that inhabit them.

NIWA creates designer homes for fish
28 January 2011

Seagrass meadows – vital nursery grounds for young fish – are vanishing at an alarming rate worldwide.

Upgraded research vessel
12 December 2010

The return of the upgraded RV Tangaroa represents a huge advancement for New Zealand science and exploration

Frightening fishy finds
1 November 2010

NIWA looked deep – to almost 1840 metres – and found new-to-science fish, close to the seafloor. The ocean revealed specimens of some rarely seen, and some previously unknown, fishes from New Zealand waters.

New insights into life in the deepest places on Earth
15 October 2010

A feeding frenzy of cusk-eels where nothing was previously thought to live, an entirely new species of deep-sea fish, and large crustacean scavengers, are among the highlights of a recent research expedition that is shedding new light on the ecology of deepest places on Earth.

Have you seen a SCALLOP tag? Now even more fishers can play tag with NIWA and be in to win
1 September 2010

The recreational scallop season opens today for the Auckland and Kermadec Fishery Management Area, and NIWA scientists are calling for help from scallop fishers to return tagged scallops.

Have you seen a SCALLOP tag? NIWA needs you to play tag and be into win
15 July 2010

The scallop season opens today for most of New Zealand, except for Coromandel, Bay of Plenty and Northland where the season starts on 1 September, and NIWA scientists are calling for help from scallop fishers to return tagged scallops.

Unique videos of orange roughy give scientists new insights
12 July 2010

NIWA scientists have captured never seen before footage of schools of orange roughy swimming above a seamount nearly a kilometre below the ocean surface.

‘Do fish talk?’ and other important questions:
8 July 2010

A mysterious fish ‘language’ is being uncovered at a New Zealand marine reserve, leading to startling hypotheses about fish communication. NZ Marine Sciences Society conference on the latest in marine research.

International Year of Biodiversity
18 May 2010

A New Zealand sponge has been selected for the prestigious international Top 10 species of the year. Each year, an international Top 10 New Species selection committee selects the 10 most notable new species described from around the world.

Scientists have old whalers turning in their watery graves
10 May 2010

Scientists are using centuries-old whalers' data from the southwestern Pacific & Tasman Sea to help better protect threatened whale species.

NIWA welcomes aquaculture reform

4 May 2010

NIWA's Chief Executive John Morgan, welcomes plans for the aquaculture industry regulatory reform announced by Phil Heatley, the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture. Cabinet has agreed to a range of amendments that will help boost the sector's potential to generate sustainable economic growth for the industry in New Zealand.

New carnivorous sponge gives its prey the kiss of death
9 March 2010

A carnivorous sponge with ‘lip-shaped’ spicules has been identified from the dark depths of the ocean.