Aquatic Environment and Biodiversity Annual Review 2016

792 Pages·2017·30.17 MB·English

Aquatic Environment and Biodiversity
Annual Review 2016
A summary of environmental interactions between
the seafood sector and the aquatic environment
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
In addition to the thanks due to members of AEWG, ANTWG and BRAG working groups, special acknowledgement is due
to researchers who contributed heavily to preparing initial and working drafts of chapters for Working Group discussion
and finalisation. Noted contributors to new chapters in 2016 were Ben Sharp (Spatially explicit fisheries risk assessment
and cover photo) and Matt Pinkerton (Antarctic science). Noted contributors to existing chapters were Carolyn Lundquist
(Biodiversity), Dennis Gordon (Biodiversity), Mike Williams (Ocean and climate), Owen Anderson (Fish and invertebrate
bycatch), Suze Baird and Kim Goetz (Common dolphins) and Malcolm Francis (Chondrichthyans).

DISCLAIMER
This document is published by the Ministry for Primary Industries which was formed from the merger of the Ministry of
Fisheries, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the New Zealand Food Safety Authority in 2010 and 2011. All
references to the Ministry of Fisheries in this document should, therefore, be taken to refer also to the legal entity, the
Ministry for Primary Industries. The information in this publication is not government policy. While every effort has been
made to ensure the information is accurate, the Ministry for Primary Industries does not accept any responsibility or liability
for error of fact, omission, interpretation or opinion that may be present, nor for the consequences of any decisions based
on this information. Any view or opinion expressed does not necessarily represent the view of the Ministry for Primary
Industries.

PUBLISHER
Fisheries Management Science Team
Ministry for Primary Industries
Pastoral House, 25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526, Wellington 6140
New Zealand
www.mpi.govt.nz
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]
ISBN 978-1-77665-449-9 (print)
ISBN 978-1-77665-446-8 (online)
© Crown Copyright March 2013 – Ministry for Primary Industries

PREFERRED CITATION
Ministry for Primary Industries (2016). Aquatic Environment and Biodiversity Annual Review 2016. Compiled by the
Fisheries Management Science Team, Ministry for Primary Industries, Wellington, New Zealand. 790p.

1
PREFACE
The 2016 edition of the Aquatic Environment and Biodiversity Annual Review, the sixth in the series, expands and updates
previous editions. It summarises information on a range of issues related to the environmental effects of fishing and
aspects of marine biodiversity and productivity relevant to fish and fisheries. This review is a conceptual analogue of the
Ministry’s annual Fisheries Assessment Plenary reports. It summarises the most recent data and analyses on particular
aquatic environment issues and, where appropriate, assesses current status against any specified targets or limits.
Whereas the Fisheries Assessment Plenary reports are organised by fishstock, the Aquatic Environment and Biodiversity
Annual Review is organised by issue (e.g. protected species bycatch, benthic impacts), and almost all issues involve more
than one fishstock or fishery.
Several Fisheries Assessment Working Groups (FAWGs) contribute to the Fisheries Assessment Plenary, but three in
particular g contribute to the Aquatic Environment and Biodiversity Annual Review. These are the Aquatic Environment
Working Group (AEWG), the Antarctic Working Group (ANTWG) and the Biodiversity Research Advisory Group (BRAG). A
wide variety of research is summarised in the Aquatic Environment and Biodiversity Annual Review, and some of this is
peer-reviewed through processes other than the Ministry’s science working groups. In particular, the Department of
Conservation funds and reviews research on protected species, and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
funds a wide variety of research, some of which is relevant to fisheries. Where such research is relevant to fisheries it is
considered for inclusion in the review.
Continual future expansion and improvement of this review is anticipated and additional chapters will be developed to
provide increasingly comprehensive coverage of the issues. New chapters are included this year for spatially explicit
fisheries risk assessment and Antarctic science. The appendix summarising aquatic environment and marine biodiversity
research since 1998 has also been further updated. Data acquisition, modelling, and assessment techniques will also
progressively improve, and it is expected that risk assessments and reference points to guide fisheries management
decisions will be further developed. Both will lead to changes to the current chapters. We hope the condensation of
information from numerous reports published on a variety of platforms into this annual review will continue to assist
fisheries managers, stakeholders and other interested parties to understand the issues, locate relevant documents, track
research progress and make informed decisions.
This revision has been led by the Science Group within the Directorate of Fisheries Management of the Ministry for Primary
Industries (primarily Martin Cryer, Rohan Currey, Alistair Dunn, Rich Ford, Annie Rose Galland, Bethany Hinton, Mary
Livingston, Marine Pomarède, Ben Sharp, Nathan Walker and Marianne Vignaux) but has relied critically on the input of
members of the AEWG, ANTWG and BRAG, as well as the Department of Conservation’s Conservation Services Technical
Working Group and individuals who were commissioned to assist. I would especially like to recognise and thank the large
number of research providers and scientists from research organisations, academia, the seafood industry, environmental
NGOs, Māori customary, DOC and MPI, along with all other technical and non-technical participants in present and past
AEWG, ANTWG and BRAG meetings for their substantial contributions to this review. My sincere thanks to each and all
who have contributed.
I am pleased to endorse this document as representing the best available scientific information on the environmental
effects of fishing and marine biodiversity, as at December 2016.

Pamela Mace
Principal Advisor Fisheries Science, Ministry for Primary Industries
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CONTENTS
PREFACE…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...3
1. INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……..7
1.1 Context and Purpose…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……….7
1.2 Legislation……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..7
1.3 Policy setting………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….9
1.4 Science Processes…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………12
1.5 References…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..14

2. RESEARCH THEMES COVERED IN THIS DOCUMENT……………………………………………………………………………………………15

3. SPATIALLY EXPLICIT FISHERIES RISK ASSESSMENT………………………………………………………………………………………………18
3.1 Context………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..19
3.2 Methods…………………………………………………………….………………………………………………………………………………..22
3.3 Model inputs.……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………37
3.4 Alternative implementations of the SEFRA framework………………………………………………………………………..52
3.5 References……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……54
THEME 1: PROTECTED SPECIES………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..56
4. New Zealand sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri)………………………………………………………………………………………………………..57
4.1 Context………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..57
4.2 Biology…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………59
4.3 Global understanding of fisheries interactions…………………………………………………………………………………….69
4.4 State of knowledge in New Zealand…………………………………………………………………………………………………….69
4.5 Indicators and trends…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..93
4.6 References…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..95

5. New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus fosteri)……………………………………………………………………………………………………102
5.1 Context………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………102
5.2 Biology……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….103
5.3 Global understanding of fisheries interactions………………………………………………………………………………..…108
5.4 State of knowledge in New Zealand………………………………………………………………………………………………… 108
5.5 Indicators and trends………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……….120
5.6 References…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………121

6. Hectors dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori hectori) and Māui dolphin (C. h. maui) ………………………………………….125
6.1 Context………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………126
6.2 Biology……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….127
6.3 Global understanding of fisheries interactions………………………………………………………………………………..…141
6.4 State of knowledge in New Zealand……………………………………………………………………………………………………141
6.5 Indicators and trends…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………………….160
6.6 References…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………161

7. New Zealand common dolphins…………………………………………………………………………………….…..…………………………….167
7.1 Context………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………167
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7.2 Biology…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…168
7.3 Global understanding of fisheries interactions………………………………………………………………………………..…173
7.4 State of knowledge in New Zealand………………………………………………………………..…………………………………174
7.5 Indicators and Trends…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....187
7.6 References………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...188

8. New Zealand seabirds…………………………………………………………………………………………. ………………………………………….192
8.1 Context………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………193
8.2 Biology…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…197
8.3 Global understanding of fisheries interactions………………………………………………………………………………..…197
8.4 State of knowledge in New Zealand……………………………………………………………………………………………………198
8.5 Indicators and trends…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………………….268
8.6 References…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………271

THEME 2: NON-PROTECTED SPECIES BYCATCH………………………………………………………………………………………………………………279
9. Fish and invertebrate bycatch….…………………………………………………………………………………….…..……………………………280
9.1 Context………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………282
9.2 Global understanding of fisheries interactions………………………………………………………………………………..…282
9.3 State of knowledge in New Zealand………………………………………………………………………………………………..…283
9.4 Indicators and trends…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………………….322
9.5 References…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………324

10. Chondrichthyans (sharks, rays and chimaeras)...…………..……………………………………………….…..……………………………327
10.1 Context………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………327
10.2 Biology…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…328
10.3 Global understanding of fisheries interactions………………………………………………………………………………..…329
10.4 State of knowledge in New Zealand……………………………………………………………………………………………………330
10.5 Indicators and trends…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………………….339
10.6 References…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………343
10.7 Appendices………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..346
THEME 3: BENTHIC IMPACTS……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…356
11. Benthic (seabed) impacts.….………………………………………………………………………………………….…..…………………………….357
11.1 Context………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………357
11.2 Global understanding of fisheries interactions………………………………………………………………………………..…358
11.3 State of knowledge in New Zealand…………………………………………………………………………………………………..366
11.4 Indicators and trends…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………………….383
11.5 References…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………385
THEME 4: ECOSYSTEM EFFECTS…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…389
12. New Zealand’s Climate and Oceanic Setting...………………………………………………..…………….…..……………………………..390
12.1 Context……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……..391
12.2 Indicators and trends…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………………….395
12.3 Ocean climate trends and New Zealand fisheries……………………………………………………………………………….403
12.4 References…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………406
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13. Trophic and ecosystem-level effects……………....…………………………………………………………….…..…………………………...409
13.1 Context………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………409
13.2 What causes trophic and ecosystem-level effects...…………………………………………………………………………..414
13.3 What types of ecosystems are likely to be most affected?......…………………………………………………………..418
13.4 Over what spatial scales do trophic and ecosystem-level changes occur?...………………………………………421
13.5 How can trophic and ecosystem-level effects be detected?.……………………………….……..……….…………….423
13.6 Discussion………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….428
13.7 Conclusions……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…431
13.8 References…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………431

14. Habitats of particular significance for fisheries management….…………………………………….…..…………………………….444
14.1 Context………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………444
14.2 Global understanding of fisheries interactions………………………………………………………………………………..…446
14.3 State of knowledge in New Zealand……………………………………………………………………………………………………448
14.4 Indicators and trends…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………………….451
14.5 References…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………451

15. Land-based effects on fisheries, aquaculture and supporting biodiversity…………………….…..…………………………….455
15.1 Context………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………455
15.2 Global understanding of fisheries interactions………………………………………………………………………………..…457
15.3 State of knowledge in New Zealand……………………………………………………………………………………………………459
15.4 Indicators and trends…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………………….463
15.5 References…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………464

16. Ecological effects of marine aquaculture…………………….…..…………………………………………………………………………..….468
16.1 Context………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………468
16.2 Global understanding of fisheries interactions………………………………………………………………………………..…470
16.3 State of knowledge in New Zealand……………………………………………………………………………………………………470
16.4 References…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………490

17. Antarctic Science………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………496
17.1 Context………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………497
17.2 Ross Sea Ecosystem …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..502
17.3 Ecosystem Effects of Fishing in the Antarctic……………………………………………………………………………………..506
17.4 Indicators and trends…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………518
17.5 References…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………523
THEME 5: MARINE BIODIVERSITY….……………………………………………………………………………………….………………..………………….…532
18. Biodiversity………………………………………………....……………………………………………………………….…..……………………………..533
18.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…535
18.2 Global understanding of fisheries interactions…………………………………………………………………………………..541
18.3 Concluding remarks……………………………………………………………………………………..…………………………………….586
18.4 References…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………587
18.5 Appendix……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………603

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19. Appendices………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………606
19.1 Terms of reference for the Aquatic Environment Working Group……………………………………………………..606
19.2 AEWG membership 2014-15……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..610
19.3 Terms of reference for the Biodiversity research Advisory group (BRAG) 2013 onwards…………………..611
19.4 BRAG attendance 2016………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………616
19.5 Generic terms of reference for Research Advisory Groups (Sept 2010)……………………………………………..616
19.6 ANTWG attendance 2016………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…619
19.7 Generic Terms of Reference for Fisheries Assessment Working Groups (2016)…………………………………619
19.8 Fisheries 2030………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..….624
19.9 Our Strategy 2030: growing and protecting New Zealand……………………………………..…………………………..627
19.10 Other strategic policy documents…………………………………………………………………………………………..………….628
19.11 Appendix of Aquatic Environment and Biodiversity funded and related projects……………………………….633
19.12 Bycatch trends for seven deepwater trawl fisheries and one longline fishery (1990-91 to 2012-13)….726
19.13 BYCATCH: Annual bycatch (t) by fishery area for the species categories QMS, non-QMS, etc……………736
19.14 DISCARDS: Annual discards (t) by fishery area for the species categories QMS, non-QMS, etc………….754
19.15 References…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…….773
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AEBAR 2016: Introduction
1 INTRODUCTION
developed for several species in the Fishery Assessment
1.1 CONTEXT AND PURPOSE Plenary Reports, and others will follow.
The first part of this document describes the legislative and
This document contains a summary of information and
broad policy context for aquatic environment and
research on aquatic environment issues relevant to the
biodiversity research commissioned by MPI, and the
management of New Zealand fisheries. It is designed to
science processes used to generate and review that
complement the Ministry’s annual Reports from Fisheries
research. The second, and main part of the document
Assessment Plenaries (e.g., the November Plenary, MPI
contains chapters focused on key aquatic environment
2016b, and the May plenary, MPI 2016a) and emulate those
issues for fisheries management. Those chapters are under
documents’ dual role in providing an authoritative
five broad themes: protected species; non-QMS (mostly
summary of current understanding and an assessment of
fish) bycatch; benthic effects; ecosystem issues (including
status relative to any overall targets and limits. However,
New Zealand’s oceanic setting); and marine biodiversity. A
whereas the Reports from Fisheries Assessment Plenaries
third part of the review includes a number of appendices
have a focus on individual fishstocks, this report has a focus
for reference. This review is not yet fully comprehensive in
on aquatic environment fisheries management issues and
its coverage of all issues or of all research within each issue,
biodiversity responsibilities that often cut across many
but attempts to summarise the best available information
fishstocks, fisheries, or activities, and sometimes across the
on the issues covered. Each chapter has been considered
responsibilities of multiple agencies.
by the appropriate working group at least once. New
This update has been developed by the Science Team Chapters in 2016 cover Spatially Explicit Fisheries Risk
within the Fisheries Management Directorate of the Assessment (Chapter 3) and Antarctic Science (Chapter 17).
Regulation and Assurance branch, Ministry for Primary
Industries (MPI), with assistance from Working Group 1.2 LEGISLATION
members and some research providers. It does not cover
The primary legislation for the management of fisheries,
all environmental fisheries issues but, as anticipated,
including the effects of fishing on the aquatic environment,
includes more chapters than previous editions. As with the
is the Fisheries Act 1996. The main sections of the Act that
Reports from Fisheries Assessment Plenaries, it is expected
set out the obligations to avoid, remedy, or mitigate any
to change and grow as new information becomes available,
adverse effect of fishing on the aquatic environment are
more issues are considered. This year MPI sought external
located in sections 8, 9, and 15, although sections 10, 11,
feedback and ideas for improvement and have
and 13 are also relevant to decision-making under this Act
incorporated these where possible.
(Table 1.1). The Ministry also administers the residual parts
of the Fisheries Act 1983, the Treaty of Waitangi (Fisheries
The Annual Review has a broad, national focus on each
Claims) Settlement Act 1992, the Fisheries (Quota
issue and the general approach has been to avoid too much
Operations Validation) Act 1997, the Maori Fisheries Act
detail at a local, fishery, or fishstock level. For instance, the
2004, the Maori Commercial Aquaculture Claims
benthic (seabed) effects of mobile bottom-fishing methods
Settlement Act 2004, the Aquaculture Reform (Repeals and
are dealt with at the level of all bottom trawl and dredge
Transitional Provisions) Act 2004, the Driftnet Prohibition
fisheries combined rather than at the level of a target
Act 1991, and the Antarctic Marine Living Resources Act
fishery that, although it might be locally important, might
1981. Other Acts are relevant in specific circumstances: the
contribute only a small proportion to the total impact. The
Wildlife Act 1953 and the Marine Mammals Protection Act
details of benthic impacts by individual fisheries are
1978 for protected species; the Marine Reserves Act 1971
documented in the respective chapters in the May or
for “no take” marine reserves; the Conservation Act 1987;
November Report from the Fisheries Assessment Plenary,
the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act 2000; the Resource
and linked there to the fine detail and analysis in Aquatic
Management Act 1991 for issues in coastal marine areas
Environment and Biodiversity Reports (AEBRs), Fisheries
that could affect fisheries interests or be the subject of
Assessment Reports (FARs), and Final Research Reports
sustainability measures under section 11 of the Fisheries
(FRRs). Environmental effects sections have already been
7
AEBAR 2016: Introduction
Act; and the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental departments (especially the Department of Conservation
Shelf Environmental Effects) Act 2012 for issues outside and through the Natural Resource Sector1) and with
the Territorial Sea. These Acts are administered by other various territorial authorities (especially Regional Councils)
agencies and this leads to a requirement for the Ministry to a greater extent than is required for most fisheries stock
for Primary Industries to work with other government assessment issues.
Table 1.1: Sections of the Fisheries Act 1996 relevant to the management of the effects of fishing on the aquatic environment and biodiversity.
Fisheries Act 1996
s8 Purpose –
(1) The purpose of this Act is to provide for the utilisation of fisheries resources while ensuring sustainability, where
(2) “Ensuring sustainability” means –
(a) Maintaining the potential of fisheries resources to meet the reasonably foreseeable needs of future generations: and
(b) Avoiding, remedying, or mitigating any adverse effects of fishing on the aquatic environment:
“Utilisation” means conserving, using, enhancing, and developing fisheries resources to enable people to provide for their social,
economic, and cultural well-being.

s9 Environmental Principles.
associated or dependent species should be maintained above a level that ensures their long-term viability;
biological diversity of the aquatic environment should be maintained:
habitat of particular significance for fisheries management should be protected.

S10 Information Principles
All persons exercising or performing functions, duties, or powers under this Act, in relation to the utilisation of fisheries resources
or ensuring sustainability, shall take into account the following information principles:
a. decisions should be based on the best available information:
b. decision makers should consider any uncertainty in the information available in any case:
c. decision makers should be cautious when information is uncertain, unreliable, or inadequate:
d. in the absence of, or any uncertainty in, any information should not be used as a reason for postponing or failing to take any
measure to achieve the purpose of this Act.

s11 Sustainability Measures. The Minister may take into account, in setting any sustainability measure, (a) any effects of fishing on
any stock and the aquatic environment;

S13, 2b Total Allowable catch. The Minister may set a TACC that enables the level of any stock whose current level is below that which
can produce the maximum sustainable yield to be altered within a period appropriate to the stock, having regard to the biological
characteristics of the stock and any environmental conditions affecting the stock;

S13, 2A b Total Allowable catch. For the purposes of setting a total allowable catch under this section, if the Minister considers that
the current level of the stock or the level of the stock that can produce the maximum sustainable yield is not able to be estimated
reliably using the best available information, the Minister must have regard to the interdependence of stocks, the biological
characteristics of the stock, and any environmental conditions affecting the stock;

s15 Fishing-related mortality of marine mammals or other wildlife. A range of management considerations are set out in the Fisheries
Act 1996, which empower the Minister to take measures to avoid, remedy or mitigate any adverse effects of fishing on associated or
dependent species and any effect of fishing-related mortality on any protected species. These measures include the setting of catch
limits or the prohibition of fishing methods or all fishing in an area, to ensure that such catch limits are not exceeded.

1 The Natural Resources Sector is a network of government Executive. The Sector aims to provide high-quality advice to
agencies established to enhance collaboration. Its main purpose government and provide effective implementation and execution
is to ensure a strategic, integrated and aligned approach is taken of major government policies through coordination and
to natural resources development and management across integration across agencies, management of relationships, and
government agencies. The network is chaired by MfE’s Chief alignment of the policies and practices of individual agencies.
8
AEBAR 2016: Introduction
Under the primary legislation lie various layers of
1.3 POLICY SETTING
Regulations and Orders in Council (see
http://www.legislation.govt.nz/). It is beyond the scope of
this document to summarise these. 1.3.1 OUR STRATEGY 2030 AND MPI’S
STATEMENT OF INTENT 2014/19
In addition to its domestic legislation, the New Zealand
government is a signatory to a wide variety of International The Ministry for Primary Industries is the principal adviser
Instruments and Agreements that bring with them various to the Government on agriculture, horticulture,
International Obligations (Table 1.2). Section 5 of the aquaculture, fisheries, forestry, and food industries, animal
Fisheries Act requires that the Act be interpreted in a welfare, and the protection of New Zealand’s primary
manner that is consistent with international obligations industries from biological risk. MPI’s Strategic Intentions
and with the Treaty of Waitangi (Fisheries Claims) (Formerly called Statement of Intent, SOI), document is an
Settlement Act 1992. important guiding document for the short to medium term.
That for 2015–20 is available on the Ministry’s website at:

http://www.mpi.govt.nz/document-vault/9602
Table 1.2 International agreements and regional agreements to which New Zealand is a signatory, that are relevant to the management of the effects of
fishing on the aquatic environment.

International Instruments Regional Fisheries Agreements
 Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of  Convention for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin
Wild Animals (CMS). Aims to conserve terrestrial, marine Tuna (CCSBT) Aims to ensure, through appropriate
and avian migratory species throughout their range. management, the conservation and optimum
 Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels utilisation of the global Southern Bluefin Tuna fishery.
(ACAP). Aims to introduce a number of conservation The Convention specifically provides for the exchange
measures to reduce the threat of extinction to the of data on ecologically related species to aid in the
Albatross and Petrel species. conservation of these species when fishing for
 Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Provides for southern bluefin tuna.
conservation of biological diversity and sustainable use of  Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine
components. States accorded the right to exploit Living Resources (CCAMLR). Aims to conserve,
resources pursuant to environmental policies. including rational use of Antarctic marine living
 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea resources. This includes supporting research to
(UNCLOS) Acknowledges the right to explore and exploit, understand the effects of CCAMLR fishing on
conserve and manage natural resources in the State’s associated and dependent species, and monitoring
EEZ…with regard to the protection and preservation of levels of incidental take of these species on New
the marine environment including associated and Zealand vessels fishing in CCAMLR waters.
dependent species, pursuant to the State’s  Convention on the Conservation and Management of
environmental policies. Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central
 Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Pacific Ocean (WCPFC). The objective is to ensure,
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Aims to ensure through effective management, the long-term
that international trade in wild animals and plants does conservation and sustainable use of highly migratory
not threaten their survival. fish stocks in accordance with UNCLOS.
 United Nations Fishstocks Agreements. Aims to lay down  South Tasman Rise Orange Roughy Arrangement. The
a comprehensive regime for the conservation and arrangement puts in place the requirement for New
management of straddling and highly migratory fish Zealand and Australian fishers to have approval from
stocks. the appropriate authorities to trawl or carry out other
 International Whaling Commission (IWC) Aims to provide demersal fishing for any species in the STR area
for the proper conservation of whale stocks and thus  Convention on the Conservation and Management of
make possible the orderly development of the whaling High Seas Fishery Resources in the South Pacific Ocean
industry. (a Regional Fisheries Management Organisation,
 Wellington Convention Aims to prohibit drift net fishing colloquially SPRFMO) has recently been negotiated to
activity in the convention area. facilitate management of non-highly migratory
 Food and Agriculture Organisation – International Plan of species in the South Pacific.
Action for Seabirds (FAO-IPOA Seabirds) Voluntary  New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy 2000 and the Aichi
framework for reducing the incidental catch of seabirds in Agreements. In 2016 New Zealand released an
longline fisheries.
9