Tarakihi
Introduction
Tarakihi was introduced into the Quota Management System (QMS) in 1986. The commercial fishing year for tarakihi is 1 October to 30 September the following year.
Fisheries New Zealand (FNZ) advise the tarakihi fishery developed with the introduction of steam trawlers in the 1890s, and by the mid-1930s annual catches had increased to about 2000 tonnes (t).
Annual catches increased substantially from the mid-1940s, and catches were estimated to be between 5000 to 6000 t per annum during the years 1950 to 1981.
Since 1986 total landings increased from 4446 t to 6119 t in 2002, and remained around 5-6000 t until 2019, declining to around 4400 t in 2020.
Biology
Young tarakihi grow relatively fast, reaching 25cm at around 4 years of age. Tarakihi mature to breeding around 6 years and growth rate slows down when the fish reach 5-6 years old. Maximum age for tarakihi is considered to be around 40 years.
Tarakihi are caught in the coastal waters of the North and South Islands, Stewart Island and the Chatham Islands, down to depths of around 250 metres.
Tarakihi are long lived, relatively slow growing, and tagging studies show some long distance movement. Juvenile tarakihi move northward from the Canterbury Bight to East Northland as they grow older.
Stock status
Fisheries New Zealand report that TAR 4, 5, 8 & 10 have never been assessed. After their introduction to the QMS in 1986 there was some changes to the commercial catch limits. Since the late 1980s the catch limits in TAR 4, 5, 8 & 10 have remained unchanged.
An integrated assessment for TAR 7 was conducted in 2008 using commercial catch information. No full stock assessment has been completed for TAR 7.
In 2017 a stock assessment was completed for the combined east coast tarakihi stocks which includes the eastern portions of TAR 1 & 7, TAR 2 & 3. The east coast tarakihi stock was estimated to be around 17% of it natural, unfished biomass (stock level). A further assessment the following year found the east coast stock was around 15.9% of its natural level. Management reviews followed these two assessments.
Catches
The target trawl fishery takes around 60% of the annual catch from TAR 1, 2 & 3. Most of the remainder is reported as taken as bycatch from other inshore trawl fisheries.
Table 1: Total Allowable Catches (TACs), Total Allowable Commercial Catches (TACCs) and allowances for tarakihi, in tonnes (t).
| Fish stock | Recreational allowance | Māori customary allowance | Other mortality | TACC | TAC |
| TAR 1 | 110 | 73 | 105 | 1045 | 1333 |
| TAR 2 | 73 | 100 | 135 | 1350 | 1658 |
| TAR 3 | 15 | 15 | 94 | 936 | 1060 |
| TAR 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 316 | 0 |
| TAR 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 153 | 0 |
| TAR 7 | 23 | 5 | 102 | 1024 | 1154 |
| TAR 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 225 | 0 |
| TAR 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
Value
Tarakihi are a valuable species for Māori customary and recreational fishing interests, and commercial fishers. Most catch is taken and consumed in New Zealand, with only around 11% of catch exported.
Tarakihi fillets retail for around $30 per kilo. At this price it is important that tarakihi is abundant and available for people to catch as customary or recreational fishers because not every can or is willing to pay $30 per kilo for a fish that was once a Kiwi staple.
Management controls
The 25 cm minimum legal size (MLS) applies in all areas.
The main methods used to manage recreational harvest of tarakihi is MLS, method restrictions and daily bag limits. Daily bag limits for tarakihi vary around the country, and tarakihi is usually included in the mixed daily bag limit applying in each area.
Management processes
TAC review eastern tarakihi, June 2022.
TAC review TAR east coast, August 2021.
TAC review 2019 process – coming soon
TAC review TAR east coast, submission, July 2019
TAC review 2018 process – coming soon
Tarakihi 1 TAC review 2002-07. (option4 site)
Tarakihi 2 TAC review 2004. (option4 site)
Tarakihi 3 TAC review 2004. (option4 site)