Orange roughy may go on danger list
By MICHAEL FIELD
One of New Zealand's most lucrative fish catches, orange roughy, is on the verge of being declared an endangered species by Australia.
The deep sea fish earns New Zealand about $90 million a year in exports – exceeded only by hoki – but officials were not willing to comment on Australia's moves till they were finalised.
Australian Environment Minister senator Ian Campbell announced on Friday that expert advice from the Threatened Species Scientific Committee recommended that orange roughy be listed as endangered after a "severe" decline in numbers.
It is the first time a commercially-fished species has been targeted for protection under Australian federal law.
The TSSC said the South Tasman Rise Fishery, which is managed under a memorandum of understanding between Australia and New Zealand, was now commercially unviable.
"Fishing on the South Tasman Rise developed strongly in 1997 with total Australian and New Zealand catches of 2100 tonnes. Concern was expressed that uncontrolled fishing by both fleets would swiftly decimate the orange roughy population."
The fish is slow to mature and reproduce, so populations are slow to recover from intensive fishing.
New Zealand Fisheries Ministry spokeswoman Michelle Fry said this country's main orange roughy fisheries were on the Chatham Rise – the world's largest orange roughy fishery – and off the southeast North Island and northern South Island.
She said orange roughy stock on the northeast Chatham Rise was above management targets and stocks in the other areas appeared to be rebuilding.
A fishery in the Tasman Sea off the west coast had effectively been closed since 2000.
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