On 1 July 2025, NIWA merged with GNS Science to become Earth Sciences New Zealand.

Fisheries

Balancing the sustainability of our fisheries stocks and the impacts of fishing on the environment with the economic opportunities

  • Double trouble from oyster pathogens

    Feature story
    The spread of Bonamia ostreae from Marlborough Sounds to oyster farms in Big Glory Bay (Stewart Island) could spread to the valuable wild oyster population.
  • Revealing toothfish secrets

    Feature story
    The Ross Sea Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the Southern Ocean will help further research into the ecology of Antarctic toothfish.
  • Scientist makes new homes for baby paua

    Media release
    Concrete structures key to restoring the paua population wiped out by earthquake.
  • Hapū joins forces with NIWA in tuna research

    Feature story
    Local hapū and NIWA are working together to find out more about juvenile freshwater eels or tuna in streams connecting to the Wairua River in the Wairoa catchment in Northland.
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    Summer Series 10: Super snapper! Delicious!

    News article
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    Seafood sector

    NIWA's seafood sector work comprises our fish, fisheries and aquaculture research and consultancy.
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    What are whitebait?

    Whitebait are the juveniles of five species of galaxiidae, a family of fish confined to the Southern Hemisphere.
  • Guidelines for sampling freshwater fisheries

    We have prepared a breakdown of the different guidelines that are available for sampling freshwater fisheries. The overview provides links to key documents that explain what should be considered when designing fish monitoring studies and how to implement the various sampling techniques.
  • Deidre Cleland

    Scholarships

    Scholarships available to both Masters and undergraduate students in the fields of fisheries science and marine biology.
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    Trawl fisheries bycatch

    Accurate reporting on the amount of fish and invertebrates that are caught and discarded by New Zealand’s commercial fishing industry is vital to effective management of these fisheries.
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    Biological limitations

    Identifying biological factors that may be limiting fish numbers requires sampling to ensure that key invertebrate prey species are not scarce and that pest fish, especially predators, are not abundant.
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    Estimated bycatch

    View data that show reported target catch and estimated bycatch.