Search results

Average length 40-100 cm; average weight 8-10 kg. Species introduced, not native to New Zealand. Colour of sea-living salmon bright silvery; back greenish-olive with small black spots, belly silvery white. Flesh in lower jaw alongside teeth dusky-grey. Scales very small and easily lost in fish from sea; has a small adipose fin. Found in coastal waters, mainly east coast of South Isalnd. Distribution little understood but probably mostly not far offshore, migrates inshore and up rivers to spawn in late summer and autumn. A salmon farming industry has developed with fish being raised either in fresh water ponds to (about 30 cm) or in sea cages up to 5 kg. Farm production is year round with harvesting to suit market requirements. Ocean ranching of salmon is also being developed.

Average size 30-50 cm, weighing 0.5 to 2.5 kg, but smaller fish are common in shallow water. Occasionally grow to over 80 cm and more than 10 kg. Golden pink to reddish above, with numerous small blue spots on the upper sides, paler to white below; individuals vary from pale pink to dark red-bronze. Strong teeth; moderate firm scales. Only species of sea bream family found in New Zealand and easily recognized. Found around the North Island and northern South Island, 5-100 m. Very important commercially. Caught mainly by trawling, Danish seining and longlining; some by set netting. Landed throughout the year with the main season from October to March/April. A moderate resource.

Average size 25-35 cm. Graded according to weight from 175 to 600+ gms with the most common grades between 300-500 gms. Species restricted to New Zealand only. Colour grey or brown with irregular faintly darker marbled pattern, blind side white. Shape oval, widest part well forward of centre. Scales rough (smooth in all flounders). Occurs in coastal waters all around New Zealand but most common in the south, to depths of 100 m. Caught by trawling; landed all year round.

Average size 30-40 cm. Graded according to weight from 175 to 600+ gms. Occurs around New Zealand only. Colour greenish-grey, blind side white. Shape oval, widest part well forward of centre. Mouth concealed by rostral hook, but visible from blind side. Scales rough. Most abundant around South Island in depths to 100 m. Caught by trawling; landed all year round. A small resource.

Average length 25-45 cm, some to about 90 cm. Average weight approximately 1-1.5 kg. Occurs only around New Zealand. Brownish with irregular dark blotches. Shape oval with long rostral hook on upper jaw. Caught mainly along west coasts of both islands as a by-catch from trawling on shallow grounds. A very small resource seldom available for export.

Average length 40-60 cm, average weight 4 kg. Dark blueish-green above and white below, with a dark head and a prominent dark pectoral spot; small scales. Distinguished from the other warehouse by a long pectoral fin reaching back to the anal fin. Most common in the cooler coastal waters around the South Island in 20-200 m; the shallowest occurring warehou. Main fishing grounds include the Cook Strait coasts and off Westland. Caught mainly by trawling, sometimes in coastal set nets. Available all year round. A moderate resource.

Average size 55-65 cm, weighing 3.5-5.5 kg. Found around New Zealand to about 45 degrees South as deep swimming adult fish during winter and surface schooling juveniles in summer. Blavkish-blue above, lower sides and belly silvery grey. Long pectoral fin. Main summer grounds December to May are East cape to hawke Bay, possibly south to Kaikoura, off the east coast, and off the west coast between New Plymouth and Fiordland, where small vessels operate using troll and pole and line methods. Main winter fishing grounds are to the east of New Zealand between the Kermadec Islands and the Chatham Rise where foreign longliners catch larger adult fish. Abundant. A large resource.

Average length 70-100 cm, average weight 3-4 kg. Brownish grey above, with several white spots, white below. Distinguished from the school shark and rig by the presence of dorsal fin spines. Most common off the south and east coasts of the South Island, 100-700 m; also occurs on Chatham Rise and northern Campbell Plateau. Caught mainly by trawling as a by-catch; landed all year round. Resource size unknown, probably moderate.

Average length 70-100 cm, average weight 3-4 kg. Pale golden brown above with many small white spots, white below. This colour, and lack of spines, distinguishes rig from other New Zealand small shark species. Common in coastal waters, particularly shallow bays right around New Zealand, with adults out to 200 m. Caught by trawling and set nets, some by set lines. Landed all year but largest catches between October and March. A small to moderate resource.

Average carapace width 10-13 cms. Widely distributed around New Zealand on sandy seabeds in shallow waters. The related red swimming crabs occur in deeper waters, but are small, non-commercial species. Caught with baited traps or pots. Commercial fishery small but developing.