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FAR-2026-31-Estimates-of-total-wetted-area-commercially-fished-for-eels-in-the-North-Island-and-proportion-of-longfin-habitat-fished.pdf
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FAR-2026-31-Estimates-of-total-wetted-area-commercially-fished-for-eels-in-the-North-Island-and-proportion-of-longfin-habitat-fished.pdf (893.0 kb)
Abstract
The aim of this project was to estimate the extent of the spatial area that was commercially fished for longfin and shortfin eels in the North Island from 2020 to 2024. For longfin only, the area fished was compared with the total available habitat to update the proportion of longfin habitat that is commercially fished. This provides an indication of the spatial fishing pressure that both longfin and shortfin eel species have experienced, and can be used as a tool to assess the status or health of eel stocks.
From 2020 to 2024 there were 1690 North Island eel fishing events of approximately 20 fyke nets per event, from 24 fishers. Most events were in rivers (83%), followed by lakes (11%) and harbours (6%) with the latter targeting shortfin. More than three-quarters of fishing events were in just three regions (Northland, Waikato, Hauraki).
A total of 7156 unique river reaches (totalling approximately 6000 km) were fished over the five years. About half the river reaches were fished just once, but within the most intensively fished river systems, many experienced over 10 passes in the five years, with the highest intensity in the Waikato and Waipa Rivers where some stretches were fished from 60 to 100 times.
The total area commercially fished in the North Island was 33.7 km2 for longfin and 65.7 km2 for shortfin. Total current longfin habitat in North Island rivers, and in lakes accessible to longfin was estimated at 458.8 km2, of which the current area fished equates to 7.3%. Compared to the previous 2016 estimate of the proportion of longfin habitat fished, the current estimate has declined by about two-thirds, reflecting a substantial drop in fishing effort in recent years.
Document date
Wednesday, 26 August 2026
Document type
V 1.3
File format
Adobe PDF
File size
893.0 kb
Reference number
2026/31
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FAR-2026-31-Estimates-of-total-wetted-area-commercially-fished-for-eels-in-the-North-Island-and-proportion-of-longfin-habitat-fished.pdf
Uploaded date
Wednesday, 26 August 2026
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AUTHOR:
Beentjes, M.P.;
Shankar, U;
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