South Pacific RFMO:species of interest

Adam Langley

South Pacific RMFO boundaries

• North – to be determined• South – CCAMLR (60S)• West – Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries

Agreement (SIOFA), 120 E• East – South America

Bathymetry

Bathymetry

Lau Ridge

Norfolk Ridge

Lord Howe Rise

Three Kings Rise

South Tasman Rise

Tonga Ridge

Kermadec Ridge

Louisville Ridge

Species of interest• Develop profiles using agreed target species template for:

– Orange roughy– Jack mackerel (Trachurus murphyi)– Squids– As many the following identified target species as possible:

Beryx splendens AlfonsinoEpigonus telescopus Black cardinalfishEpigonus notacanthus CardinalfishHyperoglyphe antarctica BluenoseOreosomatidae Oreos (Smooth/black oreo)Dissostichus eleginoides Patagonian toothfishPseudopentaceros richardsoni Richardson’s boarfish/amorheadPolyprion americanus, P. oxygeneios Bass/grouperMora moro RibaldoPlagiogeneion rubiginosum RubyfishEtelis spp., Pristipomoides spp. Deepwater snappersJasus caveorum Rock lobsterProjasus bahamondei Rock lobsterSeriola lalandi, Seriola spp. KingfishCentrolophus niger Blackfish

Others, e.g. Ray’s bream, deepwater prawns, scampi, ?, ?

Orange roughy• Deepwater 800-1200m.• Associated with ridges, seamounts.• Spawning/non spawning aggregations.• Rapid depletion of localised (sub) populations.• Fisheries on Louisville, Lord Howe, Norfolk,

Kermadec (?).

Jack mackerel (Trachurus murphyi)

• Semi pelagic, 10-300 m.• Pelagic (midwater) trawling.• Westward movement of

species in late 1980s/1990s. NZ and Australia.

• Targeted by USSR trawlers in mid Pacific.

• 5 million mt in late 1990s.• Moderately to fully exploited.

Squids• NZ and Australia.• Arrow squid

(Nototodarus sloanii, N. gouldi).

• Midwater trawl and jig fisheries. Continental shelf edge.

Other species identified• Demersal fish species associated with

shallow/deep seamount features. Mainly located in the subtropical and temperate waters (south of 20S).

• Subtropical deepwater snapper species.• Isolated rock lobster populations.• Others.

400 mDepth

1000 m

Black oreo

Bluenose

Rubyfish Richardsonsboarfish

Black cardinalfish

Alfonsino

Smooth oreo

Deepwater, seamount habitat

Summary• Limited area in RFMO region accessible to

bottom trawling.• Many areas already explored. Many of the

species are vulnerable to over-exploitation; aggregations on seamount features.

• Species of interest principally distributed in southern areas of region.

• Exceptions: deepwater snappers, alfonsino. Relevance to PICTs.