Fisheries New Zealand has contracted Earth Sciences New Zealand (formerly NIWA) to undertake research on the iconic Marlborough blue cod fishery.
You may see the research vessel RV Ikatere (pictured) operating in the Marlborough Sounds over the next month. If so, give them a wave while they’re conducting this important work to support future fisheries management decisions for blue cod.
These surveys are conducted in the area roughly every four years to gather data on abundance trends, ize, age, and sex of the local blue cod population, which informs sustainability measures and fishing rules.
Earth Sciences will be using a potting survey method, areas within the Long Island Marine Reserve and the Maud Island Closed Area will be part of this survey to compare results with an unfished area.
Previous surveys have shown considerably more and larger blue cod in non-fished areas. Blue cod caught in these areas are measured and counted with minimal handling and returned alive using a release tube to avoid shag predation.
