FAR 2024/41 Characterisation and CPUE analyses for jack mackerels in the JMA 7 fishery up to 2022

New Zealand’s jack mackerel fisheries comprise three closely related species of small pelagic fish, two native species (yellowtail and greenback jack mackerels) and the Chilean jack mackerel that periodically arrives in New Zealand waters from the wider South Pacific stock. Although catch limits are set for the species group, the abundance of each species must be monitored separately.

Off the west of New Zealand (JMA 7), jack mackerels are caught by a midwater trawl fishery with target fishing focussed in the Taranaki Bight. Observer sampling information allows the catches of the three species to be separated, but previous assessments have encountered problems with data interpretation and quality.

As part of its management within the Quota Management System, jack mackerel abundance in JMA 7 is monitored using catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) from the midwater trawl fishery. In this report, this information is given for 1990 to 2022, and concerns with data quality were addressed.

Stock targets were adopted for the two native species. Greenback jack mackerel was assessed as being likely to be at or above the target in 2022, while yellowtail jack mackerel was very likely to be at or above the target.

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