Hoki catch slashed

1.00pm

The Government has taken drastic steps to rebuild the deepwater hoki industry, slashing the total allowable commercial catch by 80,000 tonnes to 100,000 tonnes.

Fisheries Minister David Benson-Pope today announced the 44 per cent cut, which takes effect from October 1.

His moves come a year after former minister Pete Hodgson reduced the allowable commercial catch by 10 per cent to 180,000 tonnes at the request of industry.

In 2001, the total allowable catch was 250,000 tonnes a year.

The total catch allowances would be split between fisheries off the South Island west coast (40,000 tonnes) and its east coast (60,000 tonnes).

Mr Benson-Pope this month warned hoki fishers to shape up or expect "massive cuts" to the quota.

Nelson-based fishing company Sealord Group on August 13 announced it was voluntarily pulling out of a key hoki fishing ground to let the fishery rebuild.

Sealord wanted to set an example by complying with a code of practice requiring fishing companies to pull their vessels out of the Hokitika Trench area by midnight on August 20.

Sealord holds 30 per cent of the national hoki quota, a species is worth about $300 million a year in national export earnings.

Hoki is the most important species for Nelson's fishing industry.

Mr Benson-Pope said 2004 stock estimates showed urgent action needed to be taken to reduce the catch.

"Estimates for hoki on the western spawning grounds have the species at only 13-22 per cent of its original, unfished size," he said.

Stocks on the eastern side of the South Island were judged to be at sustainable levels.

Scientists believed that mixing of juvenile hoki from both the eastern and western populations took place on the Chatham Rise, off the Chatham Islands.

Increased harvest from the Chatham Rise may have affected "recruitment of juveniles to pressured western stocks", Mr Benson-Pope said.

"It is vital to give the stock every chance of rebuilding as fast as possible," he said.

"The gradual reductions in catch allowances made in recent years have not arrested its decline... a more significant cut is needed now.

"My long term aim is to ensure that the full benefit of the hoki fishery is available to current and future generations."

Mr Benson-Pope said the level he had set was the lowest of three options put to him.

"It does match the reality the industry faces," he said.

This year it was likely fishers would take about 60,000 tonnes less than the 180,000 tonne allowable catch.

"Many companies have already taken steps to reduce capacity," he said.

Mr Benson-Pope acknowledged the Hoki Fishery Management Company had helped cut juvenile mortality on the Chatham Rise, and its work to reduce pressure on some spawning stocks.

He looked forward to the industry complying with its own code of practice to help rebuild hoki stock.

"I will monitor the success of fishers' compliance with the industry code of practice and reserve the option to use regulatory measures if voluntary industry compliance is not achieved."

Ling, rig, hake, kina, orange roughy, school shark and sea perch allowances were also announced today.

- NZPA