SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF NEW ZEALAND S HOKI FISHERIES

Transcription

1 SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF NEW ZEALAND S HOKI FISHERIES MSC Certificatin f hki fisheries in 2001 and 2007 New Zealand s hki fisheries were certified under the Marine Stewardship Cuncil s (MSC) prgramme in 2001 and re-certified in The MSC prgramme des nt manage fisheries. It prvides an independent audit f the fisheries management prcesses in place by assessing their perfrmance against a range f internatinally accepted benchmarks f sustainability, based n the United Natins Fd and Agriculture Organizatins Cde f Cnduct fr Respnsible Fishing. It is the respnsibility f the New Zealand Gvernment and f industry t ensure that management prcesses are in place t ensure New Zealand hki fisheries are being managed sustainably. Hki managed as tw separate stcks New Zealand s hki fisheries are managed as tw separate stcks, a western stck and an eastern stck. The Ministry f Fisheries (the Ministry) and hki quta wners cntract a range f research prgrammes t rutinely mnitr the fishery and undertake annual stck assessments n bth stcks. The stck assessment prcess is pen t all stakehlders. These science prgrammes are actively supprted by hki quta wners thrugh the Deepwater Grup Limited (DWG), a nn-prfit cmpany established t represent quta wners interests in fisheries science and management. DWG represents the interests f hki quta wners wh wn 95% f the Ttal Allwable Cmmercial Catch (TACC). A single TACC is set fr HOK1 by regulatin, within which quta wners manage their catches under agreed limits fr each f the western and eastern stcks. Cmpliance with these measures is administered by DWG and audited by the Ministry. Management changes since 2006 Since 2006 the fllwing majr management changes have been made t further imprve sustainability utcmes: Management partnership between the Ministry and quta wners established TACC changes in respnse t research and stck assessments implemented Management Reference Pints revised and implemented Rebuilding strategy develped and implemented Western stck rebuilt t within new management target range Management Strategy Evaluatin cmpleted and findings implemented Fisheries Plan cmpleted, apprved by Minister f Fisheries, and implemented Cmpliance Grup established t achieve imprved cmpliance Audits against agreed KPIs shw cmpliance rates f % with management requirements Ecsystem indicatrs develped Eclgical Risk Assessment cmpleted and findings being implemented Bycatch and discard rates assessed Risk assessment f incidental interactins with seabirds cmpleted Incidental interactins with seabirds reduced Incidental interactins with marine mammals mitigated and minimised Interactins with benthic cmmunities assessed Benthic Prtectin Areas develped and implemented Cntinued n next page DeepWater Grup Limited A nn-prfit rganisatin cmmitted t sustainable fisheries utilisatin 1

2 Bimass f bth stcks abve B MSY and within management target range Bth hki stcks are assessed t be increasing in size, t be abve B MSY (i.e. the bimass level that will prvide the maximum sustainable yield ver the lng term), and t be within the management target range f 35-50% B 0 (B 0 is the estimated lng-term spawning bimass that wuld exist in the absence f fishing) Western Stck Eastern Stck BMSY Target Range Bcurrent/B Year Figure 1: Spawning bimass trajectries fr the western and eastern stcks between 1972 and 2011 (Mdel run 1.1) 1. DeepWater Grup Limited A nn-prfit rganisatin cmmitted t sustainable fisheries utilisatin 2

3 Hki stck sizes fluctuate naturally Mst finfish stcks, including thse fr hki, naturally fluctuate in size. These fluctuatins are largely driven by variatins in recruitment levels (i.e. annual variatins in the numbers f yung fish entering the fisheries) caused by envirnmental factrs, such as the availability f planktn as fd at the larval stage. Fluctuatins in recruitment levels fr hki have been recrded t have varied 18-fld between successive years. When recruitment levels decline and stck sizes decline, the management respnse is t reduce catch levels. Cnversely, catch levels are increased when stcks increase in size (due t higher recruitment levels). Recruitment int the western stck was abve average between 1991 and 1994, supprting annual catches f 100,000 t t 140,000 t between 1997 and During the perid 1995 t 2001, recruitment int the western stck was much lwer resulting in a lwer stck size and a managed reductin in catches dwn t 29,000 t by Recent recruitment is estimated t have increased t near-average levels in bth stcks (Figure 2) which, in cmbinatin with the lwer catches, has resulted in an increased spawning stck bimass (Figure 1). Eastern Stck Western Stck Year-class strengths Year Figure 2: Recruitment variatins in the eastern and western hki stcks, based n the index f 1+ year-class strengths between 1975 and 2009 (Mdel run 1.1) 1 Cntinued n next page DeepWater Grup Limited A nn-prfit rganisatin cmmitted t sustainable fisheries utilisatin 3

4 Current stck status and histrical stck trajectry The Ministry and DWG wrk tgether t ensure the hki fisheries are adequately mnitred and that research surveys and stck assessments are undertaken annually. Research has been cntracted by the Ministry and by DWG t estimate bimass size in all f the main fishing grunds. All f this research is funded by hki quta wners. The 2011 stck assessment results 1 estimate: The bimass fr the eastern stck t be 53% B 0 (abve B MSY ) The bimass f the western stck t be 41% B 0 (abve B MSY ) Bth stcks have increased in size ver recent years, attributable t increased recruitment and t lwer explitatin rates (resultant frm managed catch reductins implemented during the past 10 years) Histrical stck trajectries fr the eastern (tp) and western (bttm) stcks, shwn in Figure 3, indicate that the eastern stck has never fallen belw the current target management range while the western stck has been rebuilt frm an estimated lw f 17% B 0 in 2006, t abve the target management level in Figure 3: Trajectries f spawning bimass (%B 0), fr the eastern (tp) and western (bttm) hki stcks between 1972 (represented by the red square) and The shaded area shws the management target ranges in bimass and in fishing intensity 1. Cntinued n next page DeepWater Grup Limited A nn-prfit rganisatin cmmitted t sustainable fisheries utilisatin 4

5 Partnership between Ministry f Fisheries and hki quta wners In 2006, DWG and the Ministry entered int a frmal partnership t enable cllabratin in the management f New Zealand s deepwater fisheries, including the hki fisheries. 2 This partnership has been updated in 2008 and in 2010 and has directly facilitated imprved management f the hki fishery in almst all respects thrugh: A clse wrking relatinship under a shared and agreed visin, bjectives and cllabrative wrk plan Real-time pen cmmunicatin between DWG and the Ministry n infrmatin relevant t management measures, particularly frm the Ministry s Scientific Observer Prgramme and cmmercial catching peratins Agreement n a strategic plan fr the management f New Zealand s EEZ fisheries Develpment and implementatin f clear and agreed management bjectives fr all New Zealand s deepwater fisheries, including hki, thrugh fisheries plans Increased dialgue with the Department f Cnservatin (DOC) and with envirnmental NGOs (engos) interested in the sustainable management f New Zealand s fisheries TACC changes in respnse t western stck assessments The 2009, 2010 and 2011 stck assessments estimated that the western stck is rebuilding and the Minister f Fisheries increased the TACC fr each f the and fishing years. The western stck is nw assessed t have been rebuilt and a further TACC increase is under cnsideratin fr The TACCs and catch limits fr the western and eastern stcks are shwn in the table belw. Table 1: Hki TACCs and agreed western and eastern stck catch limits fr the each f the fishing years between and Fishing Year TACC (t) W Catch Limit (t) E Catch Limit (t) , ,000 40,000 60, ,000 40,000 60, ,000 40,000 60, ,000 25,000 65, ,000 25,000 65, ,000 50,000 60, ,000 60,000 60,000 Cntinued n next page DeepWater Grup Limited A nn-prfit rganisatin cmmitted t sustainable fisheries utilisatin 5

6 Rebuilding strategy develped and implemented fr western stck A reductin t the TACC and t the western stck catch limit in 2007 was in respnse t an agreed strategy t: Further reduce the fishing mrtality n the western stck; Implement a frmal rebuilding strategy; and Assess the perfrmance f the western stck against this rebuilding strategy. The rebuilding strategy has the bjective f ensuring the stck bimass will rebuild at a rate nt less than 50% f the rate that wuld exist in the absence f fishing. Prjectins are made ver a five year perid. In 2008, the western stck was mdelled against the 2008 stck assessment and the 25,000 t catch limit in place, resulting in a prjectin that the western stck wuld rebuild t within the target bimass range (i.e % B 0 ) by Bimass fr the western stck is estimated t have dubled frm a histrical lw f 17% B 0 in The western stck is estimated t have likely been belw the sft limit between 2003 and 2007 and has nw rebuilt t within the target range. Management reference pints revised Prir t 2009, the default target bimass range fr hki was 30-40% B 0. During 2009, B MSY was calculated t be 23-24% B 0, a Management Strategy Evaluatin was undertaken, and a revised Harvest Strategy was implemented with a management target f 35-50% B 0, a sft limit f 20% B 0 (triggering a frmal timecnstrained rebuilding strategy), and a hard limit f 10% B 0 (triggering cnsideratin f fishery clsure). Managers als asked scientists t reprt explitatin rates as utputs frm hki stck assessments alng with estimates f ptimum explitatin rates that wuld prvide fr each stck t be maintained within the target bimass range. Simply, these assessments estimate that if the fishery catches between 15-20% f available hki (i.e. between 1-in-6 and 1-in-5 hki), the stcks will be maintained within the target range f 35-50% B 0. Current explitatin rates (i.e. fishing intensity) are belw this range and bth stcks are assessed t be increasing in size. Fishing intensities n the eastern and western stcks are estimated t have decreased frm arund 25% and 30% in 2004 t arund 10% and 14% in 2011, respectively (Figure 4). The 2011 stck assessment estimates that ver the next five years and at current explitatin rates, bth stcks will likely remain well abve B MSY and within r abve the management target range f 35-50% B 0. Figure 4: Fishing intensity fr the eastern and western stcks. The brken lines are reference levels U 35% (upper line) and U 50% (lwer line), are the upper and lwer fishing intensities assessed t prvide a spawning bimass f between 35-50% B 0 1. Cntinued n next page DeepWater Grup Limited A nn-prfit rganisatin cmmitted t sustainable fisheries utilisatin 6

7 Fisheries Plan cmpleted and apprved by Minister f Fisheries The Ministry and DWG, in cnsultatin with stakehlders, have develped a Natinal Fisheries Plan fr Deepwater and Middle-depth fisheries, including thse fr hki. This Fisheries Plan (the Plan) is a statutry dcument, which was apprved by the Minister f Fisheries in Octber This prvides an enabling framewrk, utlining agreed management bjectives, timelines, perfrmance criteria and review prcesses, and has a life f 5 years between reviews. The Plan specifies that the hki fisheries will be assessed against agreed reference pints fr the management f hki harvest, bth in terms f bimass and fishing mrtality. It prescribes a range f bjectives and measures fr bycatch management and fr the mitigatin f incidental interactins with prtected species (such as marine mammals, certain sharks and seabirds). The actual management measures and delivery utcmes in the Plan are will be specified in an Annual Operatinal Plan (AOP), which will be reviewed and updated annually. The first AOP will cme int effect n 1 July In additin, an Annual Review Reprt (ARR) will assess perfrmance against the AOP, and the Plan in general, and will be available t all stakehlders and interested parties. Cmpliance Charter agreed between the Ministry and DWG Within the partnership between the Ministry and DWG, agreement has been reached n a cllabrative apprach t imprve cmpliance t prvide an active prgramme t enhance cmpliance perfrmance within the hki fisheries 4. The purpse is t achieve imprved cmpliance thrugh a mdel f infrmed and assisted cmpliance by: Building n the successful cllabrative relatinship that currently exists in deepwater fisheries with respect t fisheries management issues Establishing a relatinship and creating imprved understandings between industry peratrs and the Ministry n issues f cmpliance in deepwater fisheries Ensuring reliable and up-t-date infrmatin is available t all parties (internal and external) fr assessing perfrmance f the deepwater sectr in terms f cmpliance A jint Ministry/DWG Deepwater Cmpliance Grup has been established and tasked with the implementatin f an agreed wrk prgramme t achieve the fllwing utputs: Agreement n shared cmpliance rates and measures, and regular benchmarking and reprting f perfrmance against these measures Infrming and prmting cmpliance by imprving the ability f shre-based vessel peratrs t mnitr at sea perfrmance f vessels thrugh retrspective analysis f catch, effrt and ther available infrmatin Active imprvement f existing cmpliance relatinships between deepwater cmpanies and the Ministry Identifying current areas f legislatin and management measures which may, inadvertently, be cntributing t levels f nn-cmpliance, and identifying ways t address these The fcus f this Grup is t imprve peratr cmpliance with bth regulatry and nn-regulatry measures (such as adherence t Vessel Management Plans (VMPs) fr seabird mitigatin). Cntinued n next page DeepWater Grup Limited A nn-prfit rganisatin cmmitted t sustainable fisheries utilisatin 7

8 Imprved cmpliance with nn-regulatry measures In the hki fisheries there are a mix f regulated and nn-regulated management measures, the latter implemented by industry in agreement with the Minister f Fisheries and the Ministry (e.g. agreed catch limits fr each f the eastern and western stcks; vessel-specific measures t mitigate incidental interactins with seabirds). Since 2007, the Ministry and DWG have wrked tgether t ensure that cmmercial catches are aligned with the agreed catch limits thrugh the implementatin f catch plan frecasting, in-seasn prgress reprts against these, and adjustments t the Deemed Value charges as a disincentive t catches being taken withut ACE. Ttal hki catches taken in the years , , and were within ±1% f the TACC and alignment with the catch limits fr the eastern and western stcks has significantly imprved ver this perid. The partnership between DWG and the Ministry has als led t better prcedures fr managing the nn-regulatry measures, including an independent auditing and mnitring regime, and t the revisin and update f the prcesses and prtcls fr these. As a result a number f agreed Operatinal Prcedures have been implemented with the bjectives f: Reducing the level f fishing mrtality n juvenile hki; During the time when the western stck was belw the desired level, prviding a perid during the spawning seasn when n fishing ccurred; Minimising and mnitring incidental interactins with seabirds and marine mammals, particularly thse with New Zealand fur seals. Cntinued n next page DeepWater Grup Limited A nn-prfit rganisatin cmmitted t sustainable fisheries utilisatin 8

9 Hki fishing and the brader marine envirnment Hki is a dminant species in the bttm fish cmmunity f the upper slpe (i.e metres depth range), arund much f New Zealand and is cnsidered t be a key bilgical cmpnent f the slpe ecsystem. Understanding the predatr-prey relatinships between hki and ther species in the slpe cmmunity and the envirnmental trends and ecsystem changes f which hki and the hki fisheries are a part, prvides cntext fr interpreting the envirnmental effects f fishing, the status f the stcks, and fr infrming management actins. On the Chatham Rise, hki frage primarily n lantern fishes, ther mid-water fishes and natant decapds, with little seasnal variatin. Larger hki (>80cm) cnsume prprtinately mre fish and squid than d smaller hki. Hki diet verlaps with thse f alfnsin, arrw squid, hake, javelinfish, Ray s bream and shvelnse dgfish. In turn, hki are prey t hake, ling, stargazers, smth skates and several deep water shark species. The prprtin f hki in the diet f hake averages 38% by weight and has declined since 1992, pssibly because f a decline in the relative abundance f hki n the Chatham Rise between 1991 and Infrmatin frm the time series f research trawl surveys in the Sub-Antarctic ( ) and n the Chatham Rise ( ) series has been used t derive ecsystem indicatrs based n diversity, fish size, and trphic level. Species-based measures f diversity appear t be the mst useful in identifying changes crrelated with fishing intensity. Between 1992 and 1999 the grwth rates f hki fr all yearclasses increased by 10% in all fur fishery areas, but it is unclear what has caused this trend. Wrk is nging. 1 Recent studies f marine primary prductin have been undertaken t assess the energy required t supprt hki harvests. An assessment f primary prductivity in the habitat range f hki 15, in cnjunctin with a linear fd-web assessment, shws that hki harvests in the fishing year required abut 3.6% f the energy prduced within their habitat range. This result suggests that hki fishery prductin is unlikely t be cnstrained by the available primary prductin. 5 Eclgical Risk Assessment cmpleted An Eclgical Risk Assessment (ERA) f New Zealand s hki fisheries has recently been cmpleted by a panel f independent technical experts 20. This ERA was undertaken in respnse t a Cnditin f the MSC Certificatin fr hki which required an update f the 2002 hki risk assessment. A Risk Assessment is simply a strategic, systematic and transparent prcess that identifies the likelihd and the cnsequence f any event. Cllectively, the likelihd and cnsequence(s) identified are then assessed t determine the risk psed by such an event. It is imprtant t nte that an ERA assesses risks psed by activities at the ppulatin level, nt at the individual level. This ERA assessed the risks psed by hki fishing in five brad eclgical cmpnents: Target species (hki) By-catch species (including sharks and nn-fish by-catch) Prtected species (e.g. seabirds, fur seals, ther marine mammals, certain crals) Benthic habitats Trphic interactins and wider effects n ecsystem structure and functin Cntinued n next page DeepWater Grup Limited A nn-prfit rganisatin cmmitted t sustainable fisheries utilisatin 9

10 DeepWater Grup Limited A nn-prfit rganisatin cmmitted t sustainable fisheries utilisatin 10

11 Results f the Eclgical Risk Assessment The ERA cncluded that risks psed by hki fisheries t eclgical cmpnents within New Zealand waters were f negligible t mderate cnsequence, with tw exceptins (fr which they recmmended further analyses): Risks t the benthic envirnment within BOMEC Class 9 particularly fr Chatham Rise and, Risks t trphic interactins fr Chatham Rise and ptentially fr Sub-Antarctic In additin, the Panel recmmended mre infrmatin be btained and existing infrmatin be cmpiled t better assess risks t tw further cmpnents: Risks t New Zealand fur seals fr WCSI and Ck Strait, and Risks t prtected crals DWG and the Ministry have develped and implemented an ERA Respnse Plan t implement the findings and recmmendatins f the Expert Panel (summarised in Figure 5). Figure 5: The Deepwater Grup Ltd and Ministry f Fisheries Eclgical Risk Assessment Respnse Plan Cntinued n next page DeepWater Grup Limited A nn-prfit rganisatin cmmitted t sustainable fisheries utilisatin 11

12 Hki fishery bycatch and discard rates Mre than 85% f the catch is hki in the hki target trawl fishery and 10% f the catch is f species that are als managed under the Quta Management System (QMS) 3. Apprximately 5% f the catch cmprises nn-qms bycatch species, much f which is retained (including sharks in recent years). The hki fishery has a very lw discard rate relative t ther trawl fisheries in New Zealand and internatinally 1. Bycatch and discards in the New Zealand hki, hake and ling trawl fisheries, based n Ministry f Fisheries Scientific Observer Prgramme and cmmercial catch data, have been analysed fr the perid t These analyses indicate that while ver 470 species r species grups have been identified in the hki, hake and ling target fisheries 1 : 97% f the catch is made up f nly 16 species, r species grups (sme categries, e.g. rattails, cmprise several species and are referenced as species grups ). Mst f the remaining species are caught in very lw numbers Within these tp 16 species/species grups, nn-itq species cmprise less than 4% f the catch. These include javelinfish, rattails, shvelnse dgfish and seal shark Over 95% f the catch in these three trawl fisheries cmprises QMS species fr which Ttal Allwable Cmmercial Catch limits (TACCs) are in place Discarded hki, hake and ling makes up less than 10% f the ttal bserved discards A discard index (i.e. % catch x % discard) illustrates that spiny dgfish, javelinfish, rattails, hki, shvelnse dgfish and seal shark make up the bulk f the discard by weight (see belw). Percentage Spiny dgfish Javelinfish Rattails Hki Shvelnse dgfish Seal shark Lkdwn dry Frstfish Barracuta Hake Sea perch Ling Arrw squid Pale ghst shark Ribald Silver warehu % Catch % Discarded Discard Index Figure 6: The percentage cntributin f the tp 16 species/species grups t the ttal catch and the ttal discard fractins in the hki, hake and ling trawl fisheries. A discard index (red curve) is used t illustrate the main discard species/species grups. A recent scientific paper prpses that a balanced harvesting regime, which harvests a range f species at similar explitatin rates, may be mre beneficial in maintaining healthy marine ecsystems than selective harvest f a few key species. The authrs suggest that a balanced harvest apprach may be mre effective in achieving the ecsystem-based fishery management bjective. The paper warns that traditinal, selective fishing appraches may harm, rather than prtect, ecsystems and fisheries 7. Cntinued n next page DeepWater Grup Limited A nn-prfit rganisatin cmmitted t sustainable fisheries utilisatin 12

13 Reduced interactins with seabirds Seabirds and fur seals may at times, thrugh their attractin t fishing vessels as an pprtunistic surce f fd, unwittingly put themselves at risk f harm, injury r death. They seek easy access t fd, they think and they mdify their behaviurs t vercme bstacles. They can be very strategic and clever which prves frustrating when trying t set in place measures t deter them frm putting themselves at risk. Patterns f at risk behaviur by seabirds vary seasnally, by species, and are dependent n their desire t feed in prximity t vessels and nets. Incidental interactins with seabirds have been significantly reduced thrugh imprved and prven seabird mitigatin measures. These measures invlve a mix f targeted regulatry and nn-regulatry measures. Regulatry measures are enfrced, and nnregulatry cntrls are implemented by industry and audited by the Ministry. Since 2006, all trawlers ver 28 metres in length in the hki fishery have been required (by law) t deply warp mitigatin devices when trawling. DWG als requires trawlers ver 28 metres t implement individual Vessel Management Plans (VMPs), which prescribe agreed ffal discard management measures with the sle bjective f reducing the risks f injury r death t fraging seabirds. VMPs, administered by DWG and supprted by the Minister, are audited by the Ministry and are required by the Ministry as a part f permit reviews fr all Freign Charter Vessels (FCVs). DWG is wrking with the Ministry, the Department f Cnservatin (DOC) and engos n the develpment f natinal standards fr seabird mitigatin and a Natinal Plan f Actin (NPOA) fr seabirds. It is envisined that the NPOA will be implemented via Fisheries Plans, in this case the Natinal Fisheries Plan fr Middle-Depth and Deepwater Fisheries (the Plan). A Level 1 Risk Assessment f incidental interactins between seabirds and middle depth finfish fisheries (including thse fr hki) has been undertaken by DOC. This assessment fund fur species culd be categrised as being at high risk shuld n management/mitigatin measures be implemented. This finding was reduced t tw species (i.e. sty shearwaters and white chinned petrels) fllwing due cnsideratin f the existing effective management/mitigatin measures. Net captures were identified as the risk requiring further actin and research has since been carried ut in this area 8. A Level 2 Risk Assessment has been since undertaken t better identify prblem species and t better define risks 21. Cntinued n next page DeepWater Grup Limited A nn-prfit rganisatin cmmitted t sustainable fisheries utilisatin 13

14 Reduced interactins with seabirds The bserved seabird capture rates in hki trawl fisheries (i.e. the numbers captured per 100 bserved tws, including thse released alive) peaked in at Annual capture rates reduced t a lw f 1.31 in , when an estimated 140 seabirds f all species were captured. The rate increased t 1.61 in (138 captures) and t 2.23 in (202 captures) 9, 10. Numbers f seabirds captured are scaled estimates, based n independent bserver data, and prvide an index f the level f interactins fr the fleet rather than the actual numbers f interactins. In recent years, apprximately 20-30% f seabirds recrded as being captured in trawl nets have been released alive. These capture statistics may therefre verestimate net capture mrtalities, but may underestimate warp strike mrtalities. Hki FIshery - Estimated Seabird Captures & Scientific Observer Cverage Estimated Seabird Captures % Observed Tws % Estimated Seabird Captures % 15% 10% 5% Observer Cverage (%) 0 0% 1998/ / / / / / / / / / /09 Fishing Year Figure 7: Estimated ttal seabird captures, based n scaled scientific bserver recrds, and the level f bserver cverage in the hki fishery frm t Cntinued n next page DeepWater Grup Limited A nn-prfit rganisatin cmmitted t sustainable fisheries utilisatin 14

15 Incidental interactins with New Zealand fur seals Incidental interactins between New Zealand (NZ) fur seals and trawlers in the hki fisheries mstly ccur because fur seals have learnt t feed pprtunistically n catches in trawl nets as these apprach the surface. This fraging behaviur puts them at cnsiderable risk and sme animals becme trapped and drwn as a result. Interactins between trawlers and NZ fur seals have increased as their ppulatin size and distributin ranges have increased. Mst interactins with NZ fur seals ccur at r near the surface, rather than when the net is at peratinal depth, and are therefre viewed as being incidental rather than as a bycatch f the hki fisheries. Over recent years industry and the Ministry have wrked clsely with scientists and engos t develp and implement effective prcedures t reduce these incidental interactins t the lwest pssible levels. This has invlved recgnising and managing fishing practices that exacerbate the risk t NZ fur seals frm their feeding behaviurs, such as reducing the time fishing gear is n r near t the surface during hauling. Althugh effective at minimizing interactins, any prpsal t prevent all captures will be very challenging. It will require methds that prevent NZ fur seals actively putting themselves at risk f harm while enjying ready access t easy fd. Fisheries managers cntinue t wrk clsely with vessel peratrs t minimise these incidental interactins. Mitigatin prcedures currently in place, fr all trawlers ver 28 metres in length in the hki fishery, are: Ensure n ffal is released when hauling and shting the net - t reduce the level f surface attractant t fraging seals arund the vessel Minimise the time the net is at r near the surface when hauling t reduce the interactin time fr seals t steal a meal Remve stickers (meshed fish) frm the net befre shting t eliminate these as a surce f fd which attracts seals t nets at/near the surface Prvide ne designated crew member t bserve all shting and hauling f nets - t determine if fur seals have been captured and t rganise timely humane assistance t release them alive and unharmed (as many are) Manage trawl gear failures t minimise risk t fur seals thrugh keeping trawl gear at least 50 m, and preferably 100 m, deep in the water while attending t gear failure, r bringing the trawl gear fully abard, r maneuvring the gear t ensure the net muth remains clsed Real-time reprting t DWG if mre than 2 captures in 24 hurs, r mre than 5 captures in any 7-day perid t enable n-shre assessment f the factrs that may be causing the increased risks t fur seals and t advise n hw t reduce these risks. Each vessel s perfrmance against these standards is audited by the Ministry. In early 2008 the Ministry, DOC and DWG cmbined resurces t undertake the first census f the New Zealand fur seal ppulatin alng the west cast f the Suth Island 11 This is the area identified t be f mst ptential cncern because f the number f incidental interactins between hki trawlers and fraging fur seals. The ppulatin estimate frm the census was used t estimate f the level f Ptential Bilgical Remvals (PBRs, i.e. the number f fur seals that culd be remved withut detriment t the ppulatin size), using internatinally accepted scientific methds. These analyses established that the level f captures was lwer than the PBR and that, by this measure, the hki fishery was nt having any unsustainable impacts n the fur seal ppulatin in this regin. 12 These analyses have recently been repeated by independent scientists and the prvisinal results (yet t be presented) cnfirm this utcme. 13 Cntinued n next page DeepWater Grup Limited A nn-prfit rganisatin cmmitted t sustainable fisheries utilisatin 15

16 Incidental interactins with fur seals declining The bserved NZ fur seal capture rate in hki trawl fisheries (i.e. the numbers captured per 100 bserved tws, including thse released alive) peaked at 5.63 in , when an estimated 1033 were captured, and has since reduced t 2.23 in , when an estimated 264 were captured 9, 10 (Figure 8). New Zealand Hki Fishery - Estimated Fur Seal Captures & Scientific Observer Cverage Estimated Fur Seal Captures % Observed Tws % Estimated Fur Seal Captures % 15% 10% 5% Observer Cverage (%) / / / / / / / / / / /09 Fishing Year 0% Figure 8: Estimated ttal fur seal captures, based n scaled scientific bserver recrds, and the level f bserver cverage in the hki fishery frm t Frm the ttal bserved fur seal captures (Figure 8), 10 34% have been subsequently released alive (Table 2). Table 2: CSP Observer Reprt figures fr hki, hake, ling and warehu trawl fisheries cmbined (K. Ramm, pers. cmm.). Fishing Year Live Captures Fatal Captures Ttal Captures Released Alive 2005/ % 2006/ % 2007/ % 2008/ % 2009/ % Cntinued n next page DeepWater Grup Limited A nn-prfit rganisatin cmmitted t sustainable fisheries utilisatin 16

17 Interactins with Benthic Cmmunities Hki are caught using bttm and midwater trawl gear. Bttm trawling is the main fishing methd utside f the spawning seasn, particularly in the Chatham Rise and the Sub-Antarctic fisheries, mainly n sft sediment habitats 1. Midwater trawling is used mre frequently during the spawn t target aggregatins ccurring abve the seabed. Cncerns have been expressed abut the effects bttm trawling may be having n benthic cmmunities. The impacts f bttm trawling n sft sediment habitats in depths f metres have nt been extensively studied and research in this field is expensive. The Ministry and DWG have therefre adpted a spatial management apprach and clsed large, bradly representative areas t bttm trawling (see next sectin). In ttal, ver 30% f the New Zealand Exclusive Ecnmic Zne is clsed by law t bttm trawling. Within this, 6.2% f the hki habitat range is clsed t bttm trawling. The number f hki-targeted bttm and midwater tws has decreased as the TACC has been reduced and as hki fishing has becme mre efficient. The annual number f tws peaked at 30,354 in and has since prgressively declined t 6,599 in During this perid, there has been a mve away frm a dependence n fishing during the spawning seasn twards year-rund fishing and, cnsequently, the prprtin f bttm tws has increased frm 58% t 80% 1. Spatial analyses have been undertaken t assess the lcatin and extent f hki bttm trawl grunds 14. The extent f hki bttm trawl grunds has been calculated by determining the ttal area swept by bttm trawls (i.e. using TCEPR recrds t establish trawl start and finish lcatins and using the average distance between the trawl drs fr each f the trawl gear types used in the fishery t establish swept area) 15. During the perid t the area cntacted ne r mre times by trawls targeting hki cvered 13.5% f the habitat range. In , a ttal 6,462 bttm tws ccurred (i.e. including midwater tws where the gear tuched the seabed), which cvered nly 1.5% f the hki habitat range 14. By these measures, the extent f the hki bttm trawl grunds is nly a very small part f the knwn habitat range and has decreased ver recent years (see map next page). Cntinued n next page DeepWater Grup Limited A nn-prfit rganisatin cmmitted t sustainable fisheries utilisatin 17

18 Hki bttm trawl grunds Cntinued n next page DeepWater Grup Limited A nn-prfit rganisatin cmmitted t sustainable fisheries utilisatin 18

19 Benthic Prtectin Areas intrduced In 2007, after receiving a prpsal frm DWG, the New Zealand Gvernment clsed 17 Benthic Prtectin Areas (BPAs) t bttm trawling and dredging by regulatin. In ttal these BPAs clse 30% f the New Zealand Exclusive Ecnmic Zne (EEZ, the maritime regin extending frm miles ffshre). When cmbined with the existing seamunt clsures, this prvides prtectin under law t 33% f the benthic habitat within the EEZ frm bttm trawling and dredging - a ttal area f mre that 1.1 millin square kilmetres. Tgether these cmprise the largest Marine Prtected Area netwrk fr benthic marine bidiversity in any EEZ in the wrld and 25% f the ttal areas clsed under MPAs glbally 16. The bjective f clsing these large areas was t prtect a bradly representative range f seabed habitats and their assciated benthic bidiversity, mst f which is untuched. These clsures cmprise an area clse t fur times the ttal area that has ever been fished by bttm trawl in the EEZ (i.e. 7.1% f the EEZ has been trawled ne r mre times). The selectin f BPA lcatins was based n the gvernment s Marine Envirnment Classificatin (MEC) scheme, cmpleted in The MEC was prduced by a multi-disciplinary assessment f the available infrmatin n marine habitats by gvernment departments and scientists. MEC categries were the best available at the time and, althugh the categries in the EEZ are based predminantly n physical variables (i.e. depth, sea surface temp, seabed slpe, slar radiatin) and are nt expressly predictive f benthic ecsystems, they d include factrs likely t influence benthic ecsystems (such as depth, substrate type, ceangraphic cnditins, gegraphic lcatin). DWG and the Gvernment accepted that while, the MEC requires further refinement, it culd be used t prvide a basis fr delineating and implementing BPAs as a first majr step in marine cnservatin in the EEZ. The BPA clsures were selected under the fllwing key criteria: Large areas t ensure widespread prtectin at the brad ecsystem level Bradly representative f the range f benthic habitats in the EEZ based n the MEC and n cnsideratin f WWF-NZ s reprt Shining a sptlight n the bidiversity f New Zealand s marine ecregin 18 Simple bundaries - t facilitate ease f cmpliance Unmdified - areas that are largely pristine (i.e. untuched by fishing) In additin, selectin f areas were made n cnsideratin f: Knwledge f habitats rich in crals and spnges Clsure f nt less than 10% f each MEC class within the EEZ Fr each class, clsures were spread amng tw r mre BPAs The clsures were evenly spread east and west f the tectnic bundary, which runs thrugh the centre f the NZ EEZ Clsures were evenly spread nrth and suth within the EEZ, which runs frm sub-trpical waters t sub-antarctic waters The Gvernment has recently revised its MEC system t include infrmatin n benthic bita (i.e. the Benthic Optimised Marine Envirnment Classificatin system, BOMEC 19 ). Industry has cmmitted t assist the Gvernment in ensuring adequate prtectin is affrded t benthic ecsystems and cmmunities within the EEZ, including further studies and analyses prpsed by DWG and the Ministry in their recent ERA Respnse Plan (see page 9). Cntinued n next page DeepWater Grup Limited A nn-prfit rganisatin cmmitted t sustainable fisheries utilisatin 19

20 In Summary The effectiveness f New Zealand s hki fisheries management is evidenced by the successful interventins that have lead t the rebuilding f the western hki stck t the target range. The lw bycatch rate and reduced interactins between seabirds and fur seals in recent years pint t a respnsible and successful assciated-species management apprach. Analyses f the areal extent f the bttm trawl grunds has revealed a significant reductin in recent years and the very small areas fished in relatin t the habitat range f hki. Onging envirnmental risk assessment wrk will further infrm the efficacy f the verall hki fisheries management apprach. These imprved measures encmpass all the elements f respnsible management, as required by the Marine Stewardship Cuncil certificatin standards. Hki quta wners, in cllabratin with the Ministry, DOC and engos, will cntinue t cllabrate twards ensuring that the New Zealand hki stcks are managed sustainably and t the highest internatinal standards. Seafd cnsumers can be reassured that New Zealand hki is a sustainable seafd resurce, the harvesting f which is demnstrably undertaken with due regard fr, and stewardship f, the brader marine envirnment. 20 June 2011 DeepWater Grup Limited A nn-prfit rganisatin cmmitted t sustainable fisheries utilisatin 20

21 References: 1. Ministry f Fisheries Reprt frm the Fisheries Assessment Plenary, May 2011: Stck Assessments and Yield Estimates. Ministry f Fisheries, Wellingtn, New Zealand. 1158pp. 2. Ministry f Fisheries and Deepwater Grup Limited Memrandum f Understanding fr the Deepwater Fisheries Management Partnership. 8 pp. 3. Ministry f Fisheries Natinal Fisheries Plan fr Deepwater and Middle-depth Fisheries September Ministry f Fisheries, Wellingtn. 4. Ministry f Fisheries and Deepwater Grup Limited, Cmpliance Charter. In: Memrandum f Understanding fr the Deepwater Fisheries Management Partnership. Annex 2: Cmpliance. 1 p. 5. Knight, B. R., Jiang, W. M. and Sinner, J Sustainability f New Zealand s Deepwater Fisheries frm an Energetics Perspective. Prepared fr Deepwater Grup Ltd. Cawthrn Reprt N p. 6. Ballara, S. L., O Driscll, R. L. and Andersn, O. F Fish discards and nn-target fish catch in the trawl fisheries fr hki, hake, and ling in New Zealand waters. New Zealand Aquatic Envirnment and Bidiversity Reprt N p. 7. Zhu, S., Smith, A. D. M., Punt, A. E., Richardsn, A. J., Gibbs, M., Fultn, E. A., Pasce, S., Bulman, C., Bayliss, P. and Sainsbury, K Ecsystem-based fisheries management requires a change t the selective fishing philsphy Clement & Assciates Limited Mitigating Seabird Interactins with Trawl Nets. A reprt cmmissined by Department f Cnservatin, Prject MIT 2006/ p. 9. Abraham, E. R., Thmpsn, F. N. and Oliver, M. D Summary f the capture f seabirds, marine mammals, and turtles in New Zealand cmmercial fisheries, t New Zealand Aquatic Envirnment and Bidiversity Reprt N p. 10. Abraham, E. R., Thmpsn, F. N. and Oliver, M. D Summary f the capture f seabirds, marine mammals, and turtles in New Zealand cmmercial fisheries, t Extract frm draft reprt. 11. Baker, B., Jensz, K., Cawthrn, M. and Cunningham, R Census f New Zealand Fur Seals n the West Cast f New Zealand s Suth Island. Reprt prepared fr Deepwater Grup Ltd by Latitude 42 Envirnmental Cnsultants Pty Ltd. 21 p. 12. Tilney, R. and Clement, G DWG Reprt in Respnse t Cnditin f Certificatin 008, MSC Principle 2 Perfrmance Indicatrs and Reductin f fur seal interactins n WCSI. 5 p. 13. Hamiltn, S. and Baker, B Assessment f the impact f selected fisheries mrtality n New Zealand fur seal ppulatins using the Ptential Bilgical Remval (PBR) apprach - Draft. Reprt prepared fr Deepwater Grup Ltd, Octber p. 14. Black, J, and Wd, R Analysis f New Zealand s Trawl Grunds fr Key Middle Depths and Deepwater Tier 1 Fisheries. GNS Science Cnsultancy Reprt 2010/ pp. 15. Francis, M. P., Dunn, A., Mackay, K. A. and Andersn, O. F NABIS marine finfish species distributins. NIWA Final Research Reprt fr Ministry f Fisheries Research Prject ZBD2002/20, Objectives 1 and p. 16. Helsn, J., Leslie, S., Clement, G., Wells, R. and Wd, R Private rights, public benefits: Industry-driven seabed prtectin. Marine Plicy 34: (2010) Snelder, T., Leathwick, J., Dey, K., Weatherhead, M., Fenwick, G., Francis, M., Grman, R., Grieve, J., Hadfield, M., Hewitt, J., Hume, T., Richardsn, K., Rwden, A., Uddstrm, M., Wild, M. and Zeldis, J The New Zealand Marine Envirnment Classificatin. Ministry fr the Envirnment, Wellingtn. 70 p. 18. WWF-NZ Shining a Sptlight n the Bidiversity f New Zealand s Marine Ecregin Leathwick, J. R., Rwden, A., Ndder, S., Grman, R., Bardsley, S., Pinkertn, M., Baird, S. J., Hadfield, M., Currie, K. and Gh, A Develpment f a benthic-ptimised marine envirnment classificatin fr waters within the New Zealand EEZ. Draft Final Research Reprt prepared as part cmpletin f Objective 5 f BEN fr the Ministry f Fisheries. 52 p. 20. Byd, R. O Eclgical Risk Assessment f the New Zealand Hki Fisheries. Reprt prepared fr Deepwater Grup Ltd, Nelsn. 76 p. 21. Richard, Y., Abraham, E.R and Filippi, D Assessment f the risk t seabird ppulatins frm New Zealand cmmercial fisheries. Final Research Reprt fr Ministry f Fisheries prjects IPA2009/19 and IPA2009/20 (Unpublished reprt held by the Ministry f Fisheries, Wellingtn). 66 p. N:\_Prjects\ \2500 MSC\2590 HOK MSC Certificatin (Previusly 3090)\2010 Audit\Sustainable Management f New Zealand Hki V dc DeepWater Grup Limited A nn-prfit rganisatin cmmitted t sustainable fisheries utilisatin 21