Fish

Latest news

Research finds microplastics in fish muscle tissue

18 March 2021

Some of the first research into how microplastics are affecting New Zealand fish species has revealed that microplastic fragments can find their way through the gut lining and into muscle tissue.

Queen of the critters

Feature story

11 February 2021

Sadie Mills has come a long way from scaring the inhabitants of Scottish rock pools. Sarah Fraser explains.

Oceanic shark numbers decline amid research gaps

Media Release

3 February 2021

A lack of information about New Zealand oceanic shark populations is making it difficult to assess how well they are doing, says a NIWA researcher.

How does a fish climb a ramp? Very, very cleverly…

Feature story

18 January 2021

New Zealand’s native fish are doing their best to climb up ramps in a NIWA laboratory so scientists can learn how to better help them navigate our tricky waterways.

Our work

Ecosystem influences on snapper

NIWA has a number of projects that are allowing us to better understand the interaction between snapper and their environment over their life cycle.

Changes in juvenile fish habitats

NIWA is looking for people who have had a long association with the Hauraki Gulf or Marlborough Sounds to help them with a research project on juvenile fish habitats.

NIWA is in its third year of a 5-year phased project on the deepwater line fishery in Tonga funded by the NZ Aid Programme’s Partnership for International Development Fund. The aim of the project is to deliver the improved governance, management, and economic and biological sustainability of the fishery focusing on deepwater snapper and bluenose in the Tonga EEZ.

New Zealand fish passage guidelines

The New Zealand Fish Passage Guidelines sets out recommended practice for the design of instream infrastructure to provide for fish passage.

Latest videos

The world's most mysterious fish

A video about The world's most mysterious fish. NIWA researchers are working with iwi to try to unlock the secrets of New Zealand tuna—freshwater eels. Every year tiny, glass eels wash in on the tide at river mouths along our coast. But where do they come from and how do they get there?

Science on the high seas

Sustainable fisheries depend on good scientific data about fish stocks. NIWA scientists head out into Cook Strait on Research Vessel Kaharoa to survey the hoki fishery and advise officials on catch rates.

Freshwater fish swim their all for science

The tiny inanga have been plucked from Waikato streams and held in a darkened laboratory for the last month, undertaking highly advanced testing to find the strongest, fittest and fastest fish.

Ocean acidification—what is it?

The on-going rise of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the atmosphere is not only changing our climate—it is also changing our oceans. Take a look at the work of the NIWA-led CARIM project into what these changes may mean for the delicate balance of marine life.

NIWA's National Freshwater Fish Database goes hi-tech

16 August 2013

Next week, NIWA scientists will showcase the latest version of the National Freshwater Fish Database at an international conference in Hamilton.

Ensuring ecosystem health/aquatic rehabilitation – a year in review

Many of New Zealand's rivers, lakes and estuaries are in a degraded state, restricting their ecosystems and the services they provide for society - abundant fish, desirable places for recreation, safe drinking water for humans and livestock.

Cameras provide insight into changing fisheries

12 August 2013

Scientists are starting to get a better picture of how recreational fisheries change over time, thanks to a few web cameras and a bit of help from the public.

A Different Kettle of Fish

Take a look inside NIWA's facilities - the species, the science and the future of our aquaculture industry.

Ecosystem influences on snapper

NIWA has a number of projects that are allowing us to better understand the interaction between snapper and their environment over their life cycle.

Summer Series 5: Paua is a summer delicacy. Dig deep for the blackfoot sea snail!

22 January 2013

Paua is a New Zealand summer delicacy.

When someone says "paua fritter" they are usually referring to something made from blackfoot paua. The blackfoot paua (Haliotis iris) species is endemic to New Zealand and found throughout the country. It is most abundant on shallow reefs.

Summer Series 3: A mako shark named Carol

7 January 2013

The mako shark is fast and fascinating. The shortfin mako, Isurus oxyrinchus, has been recorded swimming at speeds of about 100km/h. It's the fastest of the world's shark species. Mako sharks are found in waters right around New Zealand. Only occasionally are they found close inshore.

Kiwi great whites cross the ditch to Bondi

26 September 2012

Recently, Australian and New Caledonian shark scientists downloaded data from acoustic receivers deployed off the east coast of Australia and in the Coral Sea and discovered that great white sharks acoustically tagged in New Zealand had been visiting.

NIWA goes deeper than ever before, and finds new strange-looking fish

23 July 2012

NIWA scientists trawled deep – deeper than ever before – down to 2,730 metres, and found new-to-science fish close to the deep ocean seafloor during their latest research voyage.

Havelock Mussel Festival 2013

16 March 2013

NIWA is sponsoring the Havelock Mussel Festival 2013

Turning tides - the New Zealand Seafood Industry conference

6 June 2012 to 7 June 2012

NIWA is sponsoring the 2012 New Zealand Seafood industry conference.

The conference is being held on the 6th and 7th June in Wellington and will provide an environment for information sharing. Click here for more information

Fiordland ROV footage

Never before seen footage. This amazing footage was captured by our ROV in the Fiordland Sounds.

Southern Blue Whiting Fishery

NIWA fisheries scientist Dr Stuart Hanchet describes the history and management of the southern blue whiting fishery, centred around New Zealand's subantarctic islands.

Fisheries research programmes

NIWA aims to provide the key science services required by the national and international fisheries sectors and their industry partners.

Tuna - solutions: upstream passage for elvers at large barriers

Instream structures such as hydroelectric dams may act as barriers to fish migration, and have the ability to alter the ecological connectivity of freshwater environments.

In search of the giant kokopu

The giant kokopu (Galaxias argenteus) is one of five native galaxiid fish species which, as juveniles, make up the whitebait catch in New Zealand. Many people don't realise that this national delicacy can grow to such significant proportions, with adult giant kokopu of over 450 mm reported.

Tuna - loss of habitat

Since European settlement there have been many changes in land use in New Zealand, with large forested areas having been cleared for human habitation and agriculture.

Tuna - freshwater eels in New Zealand

Tuna is a generic Māori word for freshwater eels. The word will be used interchangeably in this resource.

In search of fish food on the Chatham Rise

2 November 2011

NIWA's research vessel Tangaroa will set sail for the Chatham Rise tonight to improve our understanding of how marine ecosystems affect commercially exploited fish, and how commercial fisheries affect the marine food-web. The Chatham Rise, a large plateau between the South Island and Chatham Islands, is our most productive fishing ground.