June 2015 APPENDIX ONE: BLUE COD FISHERY CHARACTERISATION In support of the Marlborough Sounds blue cod regulatory review DRAFT – FOR THE BLUE COD MANAGEMENT GROUP ONLY 1 CONTENTS Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Biology of Blue Cod ..................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Overview of Recent Research and Management ........................................................................................................ 7 Fishery Research ......................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Surveys...................................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Catch Rates ........................................................................................................................................................................... 10 Ageing ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 14 Sex Ratio ................................................................................................................................................................................ 14 Fish Under 30 cm ............................................................................................................................................................... 15 Catch Limits and Allowances .............................................................................................................................................. 17 Sector Profiles ............................................................................................................................................................................ 18 Commercial Profile ................................................................................................................................................................ 19 Overview ............................................................................................................................................................................... 19 Estimated Catches by Statistical Area ....................................................................................................................... 20 Commercial Use ................................................................................................................................................................. 23 Commercial Regulations ................................................................................................................................................. 26 Recreational Profile ............................................................................................................................................................... 28 Overview ............................................................................................................................................................................... 28 Summary of Recreational Regulations ..................................................................................................................... 28 Recreational Harvest Estimates .................................................................................................................................. 31 Location of Recreational Fishing in Marlborough Sounds ............................................................................... 33 Recreational Fisher Representation .......................................................................................................................... 34 Amateur‐Fishing Charter Vessel Reporting Information .................................................................................. 34 Recreational Motivations and Perception ............................................................................................................... 36 Recreational Value ............................................................................................................................................................ 37 Blue Cod Incidental Mortality from Recreational Fishing ................................................................................ 38 Customary Profile ................................................................................................................................................................... 39 Overview ............................................................................................................................................................................... 39 Customary Fishing ............................................................................................................................................................ 40 Customary Fishing Regulations ................................................................................................................................... 40 Customary Harvest ........................................................................................................................................................... 40 Mātaitai Reserves and Taiāpure .................................................................................................................................. 41 Fishery Compliance ................................................................................................................................................................. 42 Overview ............................................................................................................................................................................... 42 Offences ................................................................................................................................................................................. 42 Effective Deterrent ............................................................................................................................................................ 45 Information and Education ........................................................................................................................................... 46 Appendix One: Blue Cod Fishery Characterisation, June 2015 · 2 Monitoring and Surveillance ......................................................................................................................................... 46 Deterrence ............................................................................................................................................................................ 48 Spatial Management ................................................................................................................................................................ 49 Marine Reserves................................................................................................................................................................. 49 Other Impacts ............................................................................................................................................................................. 52 Sedimentation and Pollution ........................................................................................................................................ 52 Invasive Species ................................................................................................................................................................ 53 Marine Farms ..................................................................................................................................................................... 53 Other Fishing Impacts ..................................................................................................................................................... 54 Intrinsic Value ............................................................................................................................................................................ 56 Annex One ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 58 References .................................................................................................................................................................................... 59 Appendix One: Blue Cod Fishery Characterisation, June 2015 · 3 INTRODUCTION Blue cod are often considered to be the most important recreational finfish species in the South Island. They are an iconic species in the Marlborough Sounds Area and Challenger (East) area, where they have become a topic of much concern over the years given the strong recreational fishing pressure in this area and their vulnerability to localised depletion. The Blue Cod Management Group was formed late in 2008 by the then Minister of Fisheries. They were tasked with developing a management plan for the recreational blue cod fishery in the Marlborough Sounds Area to support its reopening