Scientific name: |
Aldrichetta forsteri |
Other names: |
aua, kaataha, kataka, makawhiti (Maori), herring, yelloweye mullet (Australia) |
Yellow-eyed mullet is a good seafood choice and has been ranked amber. Yellow-eyed mullet caught by beach seining is the best choice.
Yellow-eyed mullet is a relatively short-lived surface dwelling coastal species found throughout New Zealand, but is most abundant in northern waters. It is smaller and more slender than grey mullet, forming schools in shallow coastal waters, harbours and estuaries. It is caught using set nets or by beach seining.
Yellow-eyed mullet is caught by set nets and beach seining. Concerns include the absence of some basic biological information on yellow-eyed mullet, the absence of a quantitative stock assessment, and therefore the unknown stock size and sustainability of recent catch levels (especially in combination with non-commercial take of this species). There is also concern about the uncertainty over stock boundaries, and the likelihood of sub-stocks being managed together within quota areas, plus the absence of a management plan. Depending on where set nets are used they can have considerable non-target fish bycatch and risk capture of seabirds and marine mammals.
Not certified under any scheme.
ellow-eyed mullet are sold in New Zealand and minor amounts exported to Australia.
Asssessment output
Set net and beach seine methods were assessed. While beach seine-caught yellow-eyed mullet ranked higher than set net-caught, they were not significantly different. Both rank in the amber category of seafood that is ok to eat.
| Score: | Both set net and beach seining – D |
| Population size: | Unknown |
| Annual catch limit: | Limit set at 68 tonnes since 2001-02. |
| Recorded catch: | Reported commercial landings of 45 tonnes in 2014-15 with a similar non-commercial catch. |
| Stock trends: | Unknown, but may be subject to localised depletion. |
| MSY Status: | Unknown |
| The Ministry of Primary Industries assessment plenary report includes: | “Estimates of current and reference biomass are not available. It is not known if recent catch levels are sustainable.” (MPI 2015 p 1556). |
| Score: | Both set net and beach seining – A |
| Distribution: | Most common in northern New Zealand waters in sheltered bays, harbours and estuaries. |
| Maximum age (years): | 7+ |
| Age at sexual maturity: | 2 |
| Growth rate: | High |
| Reproductive output: | High |
| Age exploited: | 2 |
| Ability to recover: | Moderate to high |
| Score: | Both set net and beach seining – C |
| Fishing method(s): | Mainly set nets (more than 90%) with a smaller portion in beach seine and drag nets. |
| Habitat damage: | Low benthic impact. |
| Habitat of particular significance: | |
| Bycatch: | Other non-target fish. |
| Ecological effects: | The localised nature of the fishery in some harbours means that there could be a risk of localised depletion in some places. |
| Score: | Set net – B, beach seine – A |
| Bycatch: |
Beach seine: There is no known or reported protected or threatened species bycatch in beach seine. Set nets: Potential bycatch of seabirds, dolphins and other marine mammals in the set net fishery, depending on location. This fishery is part of the set net effort which is estimated to catch 75 seabirds annually. |
| Score: | B |
| Management component: | Single species. There is no information currently on stock structure. |
| Score: | E |
| Quota Management Species: | Yes since 1998. |
| Catch limits: | Yes |
| Management plan: | There is no approved inshore plan. |
| Stock assessment: | No quantitative stock assessments. |
| Research: | There is no directed research on yellow-eyed mullets. |
| Observer coverage: | Unobserved fisheries. |
Fisheries map
Taken from the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Plenary report for fisheries management.
References
Paste here.