Scientific name: |
Latridopsis ciliaris |
Other names: |
moki, moki trumpeter, isuzumi, isaki (Japan) |
Blue moki caught by set net ranks higher than trawl caught and is a better choice. The best set net blue moki comes from areas that don’t overlap with Hectors and Maui’s dolphins habitat (e.g. east and north coasts of the North Island).
Blue moki is a comparatively long-lived species found in shallow waters. Landings have declined since the mid-1990s when it was introduced to the Quota Management System (QMS). This species spawns between East Cape and Mahia, and is culturally important for East Cape/Cape Runaway iwi (Maori tribes). Blue moki is caught by trawl or set net.
Blue moki is caught by set net and bottom trawling. Set nets have a lower benthic impact and fish bycatch than bottom trawling. There are concerns over limited research, lack of a management plan, and the unknown status of stocks and population size. Of concern with trawling is the benthic impact and bycatch of marine mammals and seabirds. Depending on where set nets are used they can also have both seabird and marine mammal bycatch of concern.
Not certified under any scheme.
The main market for blue moki is within New Zealand, but a small amount is exported. Exports in 2015 were under $10,000.
Asssessment output
Blue moki caught by trawl and set net were assessed along with regional differences. All trawl-caught blue moki ranked red, a worst seafood choice and should be avoided. However, all set net caught blue moki ranked orange, an ok seafood choice but still with some concerns. The best set net caught blue moki comes from areas in New Zealand where Hector’s and Maui’s dolphin don’t live (avoid the upper North Island west coast).
| Score: | Both set net and trawl – C |
| Population size: | Unknown |
| Annual catch limit: | Limit set at 608 tonnes since 2001-2002. |
| Recorded catch: | Reported total landings of 529 tonnes in 2014-2015, below reported annual peak landings in 1970 and 1979 of approximately 960 tonnes. |
| Stock trends: | Rebuilding? Estimates of current and reference biomass are not available. |
| MSY Status: | Unknown |
| The Ministry of Primary Industries assessment plenary report includes: | “Low estimates of fishing mortality in 2005/06 and stable catches over the previous 14 years, suggest that fishing mortality has been low for two decades and stock size is likely to remain above the limit reference points [20%Bo] under current catches and TACCs, in short to medium term.” (MPI 2015, p 184-185). |
| Score: | D |
| Distribution: | Mainly found around the South Island and the entire east coast of the North Island south of Cape Runaway down to depths of 100m. Blue moki spawns near Cape Runaway, East Cape. |
| Maximum age (years): | 43+ |
| Age at sexual maturity: | 5-6 |
| Growth rate: | Moderate |
| Reproductive output: | Medium |
| Age exploited: | 5 |
| Ability to recover: | Moderate |
| Score: | Set net – C, trawl – E |
| Fishing method(s): | Blue moki is caught by trawl and set nets. Set netting is the main method (60%). Trawl-caught blue moki are caught as bycatch in the terakihi bottom trawl fishery. |
| Habitat damage: |
Set net: Little habitat impact unless set on reefs or other ecologically important structures. Trawl: Damage to seafloor communities when caught by bottom trawl. Trawlers impact on benthic species by scraping and damaging the seabed and associated species. Given the low observer coverage the benthic impacts of inshore bottom fishing has been poorly documented. Impacts include habitat modification, loss of biodiversity, loss of benthic productivity and modification of important breeding and juvenile fish habitat. |
| Habitat of particular significance: | hasn’t been defined in New Zealand. |
| Bycatch: | Range of non-target fish species caught in set nets and trawl nets. |
| Ecological effects: | Damage to seafloor and associated species due to trawling could have adverse impacts on the wider marine ecosystem. |
| Score: | Both set net and trawl – D |
| Bycatch: |
Set net: Potential captures of marine mammals and seabirds, including threatened Hector’s dolphins. There is very little set net observer coverage but it is estimated for all set net that 75 seabirds are killed annually. Trawl caught:Inshore trawl fisheries have an estimated seabird bycatch of 4370 seabirds (this includes cryptic mortality of birds that strike the trawl warps and are not recovered in the nets). Species reported include white-capped albatross, Salvin’s albatross and white-chinned petrels. Fur seal captures have also been estimated in the inshore trawl fisheries at about 20 per year. |
| Score: | A |
| Management component: | Single species – single stock with known spawning area. |
| Score: | D |
| Quota Management Species: | Yes, since 1986. |
| Catch limits: | Yes. |
| Management plan: | There is no approved inshore plan. |
| Stock assessment: | No quantitative stock assessment. |
| Research: | There is little targeted research on blue moki and the last focused research was over 10 years ago. |
| Observer coverage: | Set net is unobserved to less than 2% coverage but it is not spatially or temporally representative of the fishing effort. About 1.5% for the inshore trawl fishery over the last 5 years but it is not spatially or temporally representative of the fishing effort. |
Fisheries map
Taken from the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Plenary report for fisheries management.
References
Report from the Fishery Assessment Plenary, May 2016: stock assessments and yield estimates. Part 1: Introductory Section to Hoki, Science Group, Ministry for Primary Industries; Ministry for Primary Industries (2016) Aquatic Environment and Biodiversity Annual Review 2015. Compiled by the Fisheries Management Science Team, Ministry for Primary Industries. 682p. The Guidebook to New Zealand Commercial Fish Species, 2007 Revised Edition, The New Zealand Seafood Industry Council Ltd. Seafood New Zealand, 2016. New Zealand Seafood Exports to December 2015. 133p.