Human Uses of the West Coast Marine and Coastal Environment
4.3 Fishing
Fishing practices throughout the West Coast have changed a lot over the past 200 years. Fishing by Maori on the West Coast Tai Poutini before 1840 was mostly in estuaries (for whitebait, eels, kahawai and yellow-eyed mullet) and rocky shores (for mussels)3. There was also a limited amount of sea fishing for barracouta, rig and other marine fish. These fisheries are still used today by both traditional and recreational fishers – the West Coast whitebait fishery in particular is popular in the spring months with both residents and visitors.
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| Commercial fishing occurs throughout the West Coast Photo: S Nimmo |
Greymouth Harbour is one of several ports used by West Coast fishers Photo: S Nimmo |
In early times, marine mammals were also regarded as part of the ‘fishery’.
Early Maori sealing occurred throughout New Zealand/Aotearoa prior to the
arrival of pakeha explorers. Some of the earliest contacts between European
and Maori were through the sealing and whaling industries in south-western
New Zealand that peaked in the early 1800s4, but
depletion of these animals led to the decline of these activities. Today,
all marine mammals in New Zealand waters are legally protected.
Rapid development of commercial fishing occurred throughout the 1960s and
1970s, including increased development of boat-based inshore and deepwater
fisheries on the West Coast5. Controls on fishing
activity during this time consisted mostly of input controls, like limits
on the number of licences issued to fish a particular species or on the
size of vessel able to be used. In 1986 the Quota Management System was
introduced as a tool for managing New Zealand’s fisheries resources.
The Quota Management System manages the ‘output’ – that
is, the total amount of fish harvested.
In the late 1960s and 1970s, a largely unregulated foreign fishery existed
outside the three mile territorial limit targeting high value species such
as snapper6. New Zealand gained control of this fishing activity with the
declaration of the 200 mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in 1978.
Over the years, commercial and recreational fishing on the West Coast have
contributed to the regional and national economy. While there are few specific
references to historic trends in West Coast fishing, it is apparent that
freshwater fisheries have been affected by habitat changes7 and that marine fish stocks and fishing activity have changed over time8.
The rest of this section contains information on current fishing practices
within the West Coast Forum area. The focus of this section is on identifying
where fishers fish and the fishing methods used, as this information is
required to inform decisions about Marine Protected Areas. This section
looks mostly at broad regional fishing patterns, while more detailed or
site-specific information that is available is mostly included in Chapter
5. The quality and amount of information available differs for each fishing
sector. The commercial and recreational fishing information is mainly derived
from Ministry of Fisheries’ catch information systems and research
reports. Ministry catch information is generally not of a fine-scale and
it is hoped that fishers operating in the area and other knowledgeable people
will contribute finer-scale data to improve the Forum’s MPA recommendation
process. One opportunity for this is through the submission process explained
in Chapter 1 of this report.
Some customary fishing information is included in Section 4.2.1. As noted
in Section 4.1, it is hoped that customary fishers and tangata whenua will
contribute more information on such fishing through the West Coast Marine
Protection Forum process.
4.3.1 Commercial Fishing
Introduction
Commercial fishers catch a wide range of species in waters off the West
Coast. These include deepwater species like hoki and ling, pelagic species
like skipjack, albacore and southern bluefin tuna, and inshore species like
bluenose, snapper and tarakihi.
Commercial fishers are required by law to report the amount of each species
they catch, what fishing method they use and how much effort is spent fishing.
They are also required to report where they catch fish.
For most fishing activity, where fishing occurs is reported by Fisheries
Management Area (FMA) and Statistical Reporting Areas (see Figure 4.1).
As can be seen in the figure, the reporting areas are large, encompassing
marine waters that extend well beyond the 12 mile territorial limit. As
a consequence, it is difficult to provide detailed information about fishing
activity within the coastal marine area (highlighted) of concern to the
West Coast Marine Protection Forum.
The West Coast Forum region lies within Fisheries Management Area 7 (FMA
7 extends from the Clarence River on the east coast of the South Island,
around the top of the South Island, down to Awarua Point on the West Coast,
and out to the 200 mile limit). The West Coast coastal marine area of concern
to the Forum lies within four statistical reporting areas – 032 (part),
033, 034 and 035 (see Figure 4.1).
Figure 4.1
MFish Statistical reporting Area, MFish Fisheries Management Area (FMA) 7 boundaries and the West Coast Marine Protection Forum boundaries.
Where Commercial Fishers Fish
Commercial fishing occurs throughout the West Coast coastal marine area9.
A wide range of species is caught, but it is the fish being targeted that
determines where fishers go fishing. This is not to say that other species
caught when targeting a particular species are not wanted. Non-target species
are an expected, managed and valuable part of commercial fishing practice,
particularly in finfish fisheries, which are rarely discrete. However, non
target species are not the main driver for where commercial fishers go fishing.
The information provided below is on species distributed and targeted primarily
in water less than 200 metres deep. It is important to note, however, that
a number of species more frequently found in deeper waters (e.g. hoki, groper
and ling and pelagic species like tuna) are targeted and caught in waters
of less than 200 m depth. Commercial fishers are the best source of information
on such targeting and their information will be valuable in providing a
complete picture of fishing in the region.
According to Ministry of Fisheries catch information, the following species
commonly found in waters shallower than 200 metres are targeted by commercial
fishers off the West Coast:
barracouta, blue cod, bluenose, ‘flatfish’10,
frostfish, gurnard, jack mackerel, kahawai, paddle crab, red cod, school
shark, rig, stargazer, silver warehou, tarakihi, trevally and warehou.
Table 4.1 indicates the estimated average annual catch for FMA 7 that is
taken within each of the three Statistical Reporting Areas, 033-035 (032
is not included because only a small part of it lies within the West Coast
region). Commercial fishers can provide more information on how fishing
effort for a particular species or group of species is distributed within
each reporting area.
Table 4.1
Estimated average annual catch of species distributed and targeted* (mostly
in waters of 200 m depth or less) in Statistical Reporting Areas 033, 034
and 035 in the fishing years 2000 to 2005 and proportion of estimated catch
that is in targeted fishing trips.
(Note: Estimated catch in tonnes is rounded to the first decimal point)
The species listed in Table 4.1 are caught not only within the boundary
of the West Coast coastal marine area. They may be caught in deeper waters
as well, just as there are some deep sea species (such as hoki) that are
sometimes caught within the West Coast coastal marine area. It is also important
to note that the statistical areas are all different sizes and this fact
needs to be taken into account when comparing the amounts of catch between
statistical areas. The scale at which the Ministry of Fisheries records
information prevents fine scale analysis, so the information in Table 4.1
is only a general overview of where different fish stocks are caught. More
detailed information if provided by commercial fishers, will provide a more
accurate description of where commercial fishing effort is focused on the
West Coast.
What Fishing Methods Are Used
Commercial fishers use a wide range of methods to catch fish in West Coast
marine waters. The methods include trawling (net-towing along or near the
seabed or in midwater), trolling (towing hooked fishing lines through the
water at a slow to moderate speed), potting (setting of mesh pots containing
bait onto the seabed), handlining, bottom longlining, drop/dahn lining (several
methods of setting fishing lines that often have a number of baited hooks
or lures), and set netting (stationary nets placed for a period of time
at the sea surface or on the seabed). More detailed explanations of these
methods are given in the box (on the next page) or can be found in fishing
publications or websites such as www.seafic.co.nz or www.starfish.govt.nz.
Table 4.2
The average proportion of the West Coast catch caught using different methods
for each of the target species, for the fishing year 2004-05.
Trawling (general)
Trawl nets are generally conical or funnel shaped with an area at the trawl
opening called the fishing circle, and then tapering down to the closed
area at the end called the cod-end. The fishing circle is kept open by the
hydrodynamic spreading forces of trawl doors, the floats on the headline
section and the weighted groundrope. The groundrope configuration can have
various designs depending on the seabed type when benthic trawling, or whether
being used off the seabed when midwater trawling.
The fish are herded into the trawl by the fish’s sensory responses
to the wires that lead down from the vessels to the trawl doors, from the
trawl doors to the trawl net and the enclosing meshes that lead the fish
towards the cod-end.
Trawl nets can be used for a number of water depth applications such as
benthic and midwater trawling or in combination with more than one net in
multi-rigged trawl operations by one vessel or in respect of pair trawling
where one net is towed between two vessels.
Trolling
Trolling involves the use of lures or baited hooks and lines attached to
outrigger booms on either side of a vessel and towed at relatively slow
speeds depending on the species targeted. Once hooked, the fish is retrieved
by pulling it onto the deck of the vessel.
The trolling lines also have weights attached. Different weights are used
on each line so that the lines fall to different depths.
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Pots and Traps Pots are set up as traps, with bait secured inside the pots to normally attract rock lobsters or blue cod. The traps are constructed so that once the fish or crustacean has entered through a specially designed entrance, it is unable to exit again. Generally, there is a single non-escape entrance, located on the top or side of the pot and escapement gaps on the sides to allow for the release of undersized species. Pots’ shapes vary depending on the species targeted. They are normally made of a durable frame covered in a mesh configuration. Fishers release pots from boats on the end of a rope long enough to reach the bottom. The pots are weighted to ensure they settle on the sea floor the correct way up. The position of the pot is marked with floats so they can easily be recovered. |
Handlining
Handlining is fishing with lines and hooks from a stationary or moving boat.
Handlining is also a highly selective fishery in terms of fish quality, species and size. Because hauling is slow, mechanised (electrical or hydraulic) systems have been developed to allow more lines to be worked by a smaller crew.
| Bottom LongLining Longlines consist of a backbone line with ‘snoods’ (short lengths of line with a hook) attached. The method of longlining has become highly mechanised, with the snoods being automatically baited and clipped to the backbone as the line is set out over the stern of the vessel. Bottom longlining (also called ‘trot lining’) is when the line is set along the sea floor. They are held in position by anchors at each end, and there are surface marker buoys to show the location of the line. |
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Drop/Dahn Lines
Drop/dahn lining (also called vertical lining) is a method suited for rocky
areas and areas with vertical type terrain. Instead of horizontal bottom
lines, vertical lines with snoods attached are used. Lines are secured by
a weight and marked with a dahn buoy.
| Set Net Set netting (also called gill netting) involves setting a section of net which traps or entangles fish by their gills. As they try to back out, their gills are caught in the mesh. The set net is deployed on the seabed with the top of the net buoyed by a float line whilst the bottom of the net is held down by a line of weights. The combined action of the floats and weights keeps the net stretched out vertically and meshes open. |
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Notes about the data in Table 4.2
Some methods, such as trawling or longlining, may occur both inside and
outside the West Coast coastal marine area, so the information is only indicative
of the proportion of catches within the three statistical areas. The data
cannot be extrapolated to indicate the exact percentage of catch by method
from within the area of interest to the Forum.
Ranges have been provided when there are fewer than three people using this
method, due to the MFish release criteria and commercial sensitivity around
catch information. If there were only two methods and one method had less
than three participants this species has not been included in the table.
Eeling
Commercial eeling is carried out in estuaries and river mouth areas within
the coastal marine area, as well as in freshwater catchment areas, using
fyke nets. The Tai Poutini Tuna Eel Management Plan11
lists Okarito Lagoon as the most substantial water body in the West Coast
coastal marine area that is open to commercial eel fishing. The plan also
lists some ‘significant water bodies’ within the coastal marine
area that are closed to commercial eel fishing on account of their protected
or private land status. These are:
- Five Mile Lagoon;
- Lake Windermere;
- Waitangiroto Nature Reserve;
- Totara Lagoon Wildlife Management Reserve;
- Saltwater Lagoon Scenic Reserve;
- Porarari River;
- Heaphy River; and
- Arahura River (privately owned by Mawhera Incorporation)
Marine Farms
No marine farms presently exist on the West Coast, at least in part because
of the high energy nature of the coastline. Consents have been issued by
the West Coast Regional Council and the Ministry of Fisheries for a 45 hectare
mussel farm at Jackson Bay/Okahu.
4.3.2 Recreational Fishing and Freshwater Fisheries
Most recreational fishing activity is managed by the Ministry of Fisheries
under the Fisheries Act 1996, including marine fish and eels. Fishing for
other native freshwater fish species (e.g. whitebait) is managed by the
Department of Conservation. Sports fisheries (of some acclimatised or introduced
fish) are managed by the West Coast Fish and Game Council.
Marine Recreational Fishing
There is not a lot of published information available on recreational fishing
on the West Coast. However, many people are recreational fishers and they
hold a lot of anecdotal information about this activity. In order to improve
the Forum’s MPA recommendation process, it is hoped that fishers operating
in the area and other knowledgeable people will contribute more detailed
information on where recreational fishing occurs, for what species, and
using what methods. One opportunity for this is through the submission process
explained in Chapter 1 of this report.
A marine recreational fishing study was recently commissioned for the purpose
of better informing the West Coast Marine Protection Forum12.
The study is providing information on the species targeted and caught, methods
used and locations fished by recreational fishers between Kahurangi Point
and Awarua Point. The study uses information from aerial surveys, questionnaires,
and past telephone and diary surveys. Some of the initial results of this
study are included in the summary below.
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| Recreational fishers and rod fishing Photo: S Nimmo |
According to information collected in the questionnaires, the species most
frequently targeted by recreational fishers on the West Coast are blue cod,
rig, snapper, kahawai, rock lobster, elephant fish and school shark. These
species are also the most frequently caught. Past telephone and diary surveys
have identified the same set of species as important to recreational fishers
on the West Coast.
Recreational fishers on the West Coast also use many different fishing methods
(see Figure 4.2 opposite). Information collected in questionnaires, aerial
surveys and telephone and diary surveys identify rod or line fishing from
shore, followed by rod and line fishing from boats as the most common methods
used. Telephone and diary surveys and questionnaires also identify set/gill
netting as being frequently used (aerial surveys did not appear to sample
netting or hand gathering methods well). Other methods used (but less frequently)
include diving, potting, longlining, spearing, and beach seining. Dredging
was also identified but it is likely this method occurs in the part of FMA
7 that does not lie within the West Coast coastal marine area of interest
to the Forum.
Figure 4.2
Percentage of different recreational fishing methods used on the West Coast identified in the
2006 questionnaires. (Graph derived from data in NIWA (in prep)
No absolute estimates of fishing effort are available as the information collected in the study is not representative of an average day’s fishing. However, aerial surveys provide information on the relative intensity throughout the West Coast coastal marine area, for recreational boat fishing and surfcasting. Figures 4.3 to 4.8 (for zones 1–6, from north to south) show the distribution and methods observed during the aerial surveys. The aerial surveys indicate that the greatest densities of recreational fishers occur close to population centres, such as Westport, Greymouth and Hokitika. Boat-based fishing was most frequently observed near Westport and Cape Foulwind, but was also common around Jackson Head and Cascade Point. Surfcasting was relatively common throughout most of the survey area, except between Okuru and Awarua Point (refer Figure 4.8). The location of recreational fishing events is often linked to access sites (e.g. roads, river mouths, port areas and boat ramps) and coastal settlements that are mapped and described in Chapter 5. The more remote areas are generally used less by recreational fishers
Figures 4.3 to 4.8
Recreational fishing activities recorded by 2006 NIWA aerial surveys (NIWA in prep)
Types of fishing activity and the numbers observed are indicated in key.
| Figure 4.3 Aerial surveys, Zone 1: Kahurangi Point to Little Wanganui Head  |
Figure 4.4 Aerial surveys, Zone 2: Little Wanganui Head to Kaipakati Point  |
| Figure 4.5 Aerial surveys, Zone 3: Kaipakati Point to Hokitika  |
Figure 4.6 Aerial surveys, Zone 4: Hokitika to Gillespies Point  |
| Figure 4.7 Aerial surveys, Zone 5: Gillespies Point to Okura  |
Figure 4.8 Aerial surveys, Zone 6: Okura to Awarua Point  |
Recreational fishing occurs in all types of coastal and marine environments
within the West Coast. In river mouths, estuaries, and lagoons people fish
using rods and set nets for fish such as kahawai, yellow-eyed mullet and
sports fish. They also gather shellfish such as cockles and pipis, mostly
from the larger tidal flat estuaries. On the intertidal and shallow subtidal
areas of the open coast, fishers do line fishing (e.g. using boat rods,
surfcasters and set lines) and set netting from rocky shores, beaches and
boats to catch fish such as red cod, kahawai, elephant fish, blue cod, tarakihi
and snapper. At rocky shore and reef sites, mussels, paua and kina are gathered
by hand, and rock lobsters are caught by several methods. Further offshore
in the deep subtidal areas and beyond, recreational boats are sometimes
taken to catch deeper water species such as groper, ling and tuna.
It appears that most recreational fishing on the West Coast is done informally
by individuals, but clubs, charter boats and competitions also provide opportunities
for recreational fishers. An unknown number of recreational commercial charter
boats operate on the West Coast, mostly out of the three main ports of Westport,
Greymouth and Jackson Bay. These trips are sometimes combined with commercial
sightseeing or dolphin watching. Several fishing and diving clubs are based
on the West Coast or visit from elsewhere, and several recreational fishing
competitions and events occur each year throughout the region.
Freshwater Fishing
Some fish caught within the coastal marine area are more commonly regarded
as freshwater fish, and these include whitebait, eels and sports fish (e.g.
brown trout, rainbow trout, quinnat salmon and perch). All of these fish
spend some part of their lives in fresh water, but they can also be found
in estuarine or marine waters.
Whitebaiting is a major recreational and commercial activity in springtime
around the tidal reaches of West Coast river mouths and estuaries. Fishers
target the young of five native Galaxias freshwater fish species returning
in shoals from the sea, and the fish are caught using a variety of fine-meshed
nets, screens and structures. The West Coast season runs from 1st September
to 14th November, and the region supports probably the largest whitebait
fishery in New Zealand13. A fully consultative
public process is required under the Whitebait Fishing (West Coast) Regulations
1994 before any change can be made to the management of the fishery.
Sports Fishing
In the West Coast coastal marine area, sports fish include brown trout,
rainbow trout, quinnat salmon and perch14. Much
of the fishing for these species occurs upstream of the coastal marine area,
but some rodfishing occurs at river mouths and in estuaries. Fishing sometimes
targets these acclimatised species or they are caught incidentally by kahawai
fishers, but they must be taken in accordance with the regulations (e.g.
not on a baited line or in a setnet). From January until April sea-run salmon
can be expected around most major river mouths south of the Taramakau15.
Eeling
Recreational eeling is done in estuaries and river mouth areas within the
coastal marine area, as well as in freshwater catchment areas, using line
fishing and other hand-gathering methods. There is little published information
available about this type of recreational fishing on the West Coast.
3 Waitangi Tribunal 1992
4 Starke 1986, Molloy 1985, Begg & Begg 1979
5 Stevens 2000
6 e.g. see Johnson and Haworth 2004
7 e.g. McDowall 1984
8 e.g. Booth et al 2005
9 Booth et al 2005
10 For the purposes of reporting commercial catch the following species
are included in ‘flatfish’: black flounder, brill, NZ sole,
sole, greenback flounder, lemon sole, sand flounder, turbot, witch and yellow
belly flounder.
11 Tai Poutini Tuna 1999
12 NIWA in prep
13 McDowall 1984
14 McDowall 1994, Fish and Game New Zealand 2006
15 Fish and Game New Zealand 2006