A new Fisheries New Zealand (FNZ) study into snapper (SNA 1) has highlighted the importance of effective fisheries management in protecting fish stocks and supporting the long-term sustainability of seafood.
The research shows that more than 50 percent of snapper caught by recreational fishers throughout the SNA 1 quota management area are undersized and released, with an estimated 250 tonnes dying each year after being discarded. More than half of this mortality – 124 tonnes – comes from private boats in the Hauraki Gulf, where recreational fishing pressure is highest.
The findings highlight the importance of understanding and managing fishing activity across all sectors. Unlike commercial vessels, which must report every fish caught and returned, recreational catch has historically relied on infrequent surveys and assumptions. The study provides new data on the scale of recreational catch, discards and mortality.
Commercial reporting shows that around 2 percent of snapper caught in northern New Zealand are below the minimum legal size, compared with more than 50 percent in the recreational sector. Commercial fishers have adapted their fishing practices to avoid catching juvenile fish wherever possible, supported by a management system that requires catch to be accounted for and creates incentives to minimise unwanted catch.
Effective conservation and resource management are important across the seafood sector, including both fisheries and aquaculture. Well-managed fisheries and responsible fish farming can support healthy fish populations and maintain consumer confidence in seafood. By contrast, uncontrolled fishing activity, particularly the removal and mortality of young fish, can undermine efforts to manage resources sustainably and affect perceptions of the wider seafood sector.
FNZ’s study highlights the need for greater visibility of all fishing activity. As New Zealand’s population grows and concentrates around centres such as Auckland, understanding the scale of recreational fishing pressure will be important for maintaining healthy snapper stocks. Accurate information on what is caught, released and lost is essential for fisheries managers to make informed decisions and protect fish stocks for the future.
Read the full Fisheries New Zealand study here: https://fs.fish.govt.nz/Doc/26245/FAR-2026-20-Characterisation-of-recreational-fishing-activity-for-snapper-and-estimating-release-mortality-SNA1.pdf.ashx
