Orange Roughy Second Surveillance Audit 2018

In 2016 three New Zealand orange roughy fisheries (ORH 3B East and South Chatham Rise, ORH 3B North West Chatham Rise, and ORH 7A including Westpac Bank) were certified by MRAG Americas against the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Fisheries Standard (CR v1.3).

In November 2018 the fisheries underwent and passed their second surveillance audit, confirming they continue to meet the MSC's standard.

DWG has made all non-confidential information provided to the Conformance Assessment Body (i.e. MRAG) publicly available on this webpage to ensure all documents are easily accessible by all participants.

Principle 1

"A fishery must be conducted in a manner that does not lead to over-fishing or depletion of the exploited populations and, for those populations that are depleted, the fishery must be conducted in a manner that demonstrably leads to their recovery."

The intent of this principle is to ensure that the productive capacities of the resources are maintained at high levels and are not sacrificed in favour of short term interests.

Principle 2

"Fishing operations should allow for the maintenance of the structure, productivity, function and diversity of the ecosystem (including habitat and associated dependent and ecologically related species) on which the fishery depends."

The intent of this principle is to encourage management of fisheries from an ecosystem perspective under a system designed to restrain the impacts of the fishery on the ecosystem.

View Supporting Documents

Baird, S.J.; Wood, B. A. (2018) Extent of bottom contact by New Zealand commercial trawl fishing for deepwater Tier 1 and Tier 2 target fish stocks, 1989–90 to 2015–16. New Zealand Aquatic Environment and Biodiversity Report No. 193. 102 p.

Bowden, D.A.; Davey, N.; Fenwick, M.; George, S.; Macpherson, D.; Ray, C.; Stewart, R.; Christensen-Field, C.; Gibson, K. (2017). Quantifying Benthic Biodiversity: a factual voyage report from RV Tangaroa voyage TAN1701 to Chatham Rise 4 January – 2 February 2017. New Zealand Aquatic Environment and Biodiversity Report No. 185.

DOC. (2018). Conservation Services Plan 2018-19

DWG. (2018a). Operational Procedures 2018-19

DWG (2018b). Progress Report on Conditions 2 and 3.

Fisheries New Zealand (2018a). Aquatic Environment and Biodiversity Annual Review (AEBAR 2017)

Fisheries New Zealand (2018b). Annual Review Report for 2016-17

Fisheries New Zealand (2018c). Annual Operational Plan for 2018-19

Fisheries New Zealand (2018d). Sustainability measures for 1 October 2018: consultation document (refer sections on Chatham Rise OEO 4 regarding fish bycatch)

Fisheries New Zealand (2018e).Sustainability measures for 1 October 2018: decision document (refer sections on Chatham Rise OEO 4 regarding fish bycatch)

Fisheries New Zealand (2018f).Sustainability measures for 1 October 2018: Minister's decision (refer sections on Chatham Rise OEO 4 regarding fish bycatch)

Fisheries New Zealand (2018g). Fisheries Assessment Plenary May 2018. Stock Assessments and Stock Status: OEO 4

Tracey, D., Bostock, H., Shaffer, M. (2018). Ageing methods for protected deep-sea corals: A review and recommendation for an ageing study. DOC Contract 4527 GMC - Age & Growth of coral (POP2017-07). NIWA Client Report No. 2018035WN 40 p.

Principle 3

"The fishery is subject to an effective management system that respects local, national and international laws and standards and incorporates institutional and operational frameworks that require use of the resource to be responsible and sustainable."

The intent of this principle is to ensure that there is an institutional and operational framework for implementing Principles 1 and 2, appropriate to the size and scare of the fishery.

Surveillance Report

MRAG Americas' MSC 2nd  Annual Surveillance Report dated January 2019 can be accessed here.