Talley's New Zealand Skipjack Tuna Purse Seine Surveillance Report

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Talley's New Zealand Skipjack Tuna Purse Seine Surveillance Report
Marine Stewardship Council fisheries assessments

Lloyd’s Register
6 Redheughs Rigg
South Gyle
Edinburgh, EH12 9DQ
United Kingdom
T +44 (0)131 619 2100
E fisheries-ca@lr.org
www.lr.org

       Talley’s New Zealand Skipjack Tuna Purse
                         Seine

                                                    Surveillance Report

 Conformity Assessment Body (CAB) Acoura Marine t/a Lloyd’s Register

 Assessment team                                            Jo Akroyd & Kevin McLoughlin

 Fishery client                                             Talley’s Group Limited

 Assessment type                                            Third Surveillance

 Date                                                       January 2021

Lloyd’s Register, LR and any variants are trading names of Lloyd’s Register Group Limited, its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Acoura Marine: trading as Lloyd's Register (Reg. no. SC313289).
Registered office: 50 Lothian Road, Festival Square, Edinburgh, EH3 9WJ. Registered in Scotland. A member of the Lloyd’s Register group.

MSC FCP v2.2 SA Reporting Template v2.1 LR July 2020                               Page 1 of 41                                            www.lr.org
Talley's New Zealand Skipjack Tuna Purse Seine Surveillance Report
Lloyd’s Register
3rd Surveillance Report
Talleys New Zealand Skipjack Tuna Purse Seine

Contents
Contents .................................................................................................................................................. 2
List of Figures........................................................................................................................................ 3
List of Tables ......................................................................................................................................... 3
1           Glossary ..................................................................................................................................... 4
2           Executive summary .................................................................................................................... 5
3           Report details ............................................................................................................................. 6
            3.1             Surveillance information............................................................................................. 6
            3.2             Background ................................................................................................................ 8
            Changes in management system .............................................................................................. 8
            Changes in relevant regulations ................................................................................................ 8
            Changes to personnel involved in science, management or industry ....................................... 9
            Changes to scientific base of information, including stock assessments .................................. 9
            3.3             Version details ......................................................................................................... 15
4           Results ..................................................................................................................................... 16
            4.1             Surveillance results overview................................................................................... 16
            4.1.1 Summary of conditions .................................................................................................. 16
            4.1.2 Total Allowable Catch (TAC) and catch data ................................................................ 17
            4.1.3 Recommendations ........................................................................................................ 17
            4.2             Re-scoring Performance Indicators ......................................................................... 17
            4.3             Conditions ................................................................................................................ 25
            4.3.1 Closed Conditions ......................................................................................................... 25
            4.3.2 Progress against conditions .......................................................................................... 26
            4.4             Client Action Plan ..................................................................................................... 32
            4.5             References ............................................................................................................... 33
5           Appendices .............................................................................................................................. 35
            5.1             Evaluation processes and techniques ..................................................................... 35
            5.1.1 Site visits ....................................................................................................................... 35
            5.1.2 Stakeholder participation ............................................................................................... 35
            5.2             Stakeholder input ..................................................................................................... 36
            5.3             Revised surveillance program ................................................................................. 37
            5.4             Harmonised fishery assessments ............................................................................ 38
6           Template information and copyright ......................................................................................... 41

Lloyd’s Register, LR and any variants are trading names of Lloyd’s Register Group Limited, its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Acoura Marine: trading as Lloyd's Register (Reg. no. SC313289).
Registered office: 50 Lothian Road, Festival Square, Edinburgh, EH3 9WJ. Registered in Scotland. A member of the Lloyd’s Register group.

MSC FCP v2.2 SA Reporting Template v2.1 LR July 2020                               Page 2 of 41                                                                 www.lr.org
Talley's New Zealand Skipjack Tuna Purse Seine Surveillance Report
Lloyd’s Register
3rd Surveillance Report
Talleys New Zealand Skipjack Tuna Purse Seine

List of Figures
  Figure 1. WCPO skipjack catch (t) by year. (Source: Williams and Ruaia, 2020) ....................................................... 10
  Figure 2. Distribution of skipjack tuna catch 1990-2019. (Source: Williams and Ruaia, 2020) ................................... 10
  Figure 3. Distribution of purse seine effort and catch (tonnes per one degree square) in 2019 (Source: Talley’s,
  2020). ........................................................................................................................................................................... 11
  Figure 4. Kobe plot for the recent spawning potential (2015-2018) summarizing the results for each of the models in
  the structural uncertainty grid. The plots represent estimates of stock status in terms of spawning potential depletion
  and fishing mortality and marginal distributions of each are presented. Brown triangle indicates the median of the
  estimates. The size of the circle relates to the weight of that particular model run. Source: WCPFC-SC, 2019 ........ 12
  Figure 5. Progress towards implementing the skipjack harvest strategy. Dark green shading indicates substantial
  progress has been made; light green indicates work is currently underway; orange indicates work has not yet
  begun. Adapted from WCPFC16-2019-09. .................................................................................................................. 28

List of Tables
  Table 1. Surveillance information ................................................................................................................................... 6
  Table 2. Updates to CMMs adopted by WCPFC in 2019. Source: WCPFC, 2019 ....................................................... 8
  Table 3. Skipjack catch (t) in the New Zealand EEZ. Year = New Zealand fishing year, 1 October to 30 September10
  Table 4. Catch composition from five observed purse seine trips during the 2018 and 2019 financial years (Talley’s,
  2020). ........................................................................................................................................................................... 13
  Table 5. Commercial reported protected spinetail devil ray interactions in the skipjack purse seine fishery over the
  last five financial years (Talley’s, 2020). ...................................................................................................................... 14
  Table 6. Fisheries program documents versions ......................................................................................................... 15
  Table 7. Summary of conditions .................................................................................................................................. 16
  Table 8. Total Allowable Catch (TAC) and catch data ................................................................................................. 17
  Table 9. Re-scoring of PI 2.3.2 .................................................................................................................................... 17
  Table 10. Principal level scores ................................................................................................................................... 24
  Table 11. Condition 3 - Closed .................................................................................................................................... 25
  Table 12. Condition 1 ................................................................................................................................................... 26
  Table 13. Condition 2 ................................................................................................................................................... 31
  Table 14. Overlapping fisheries ................................................................................................................................... 39
  Table 15. Overlapping fisheries Principle 1 scores ...................................................................................................... 39
  Table 16. Rationale for scoring differences ................................................................................................................. 40

Lloyd’s Register, LR and any variants are trading names of Lloyd’s Register Group Limited, its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Acoura Marine: trading as Lloyd's Register (Reg. no. SC313289).
Registered office: 50 Lothian Road, Festival Square, Edinburgh, EH3 9WJ. Registered in Scotland. A member of the Lloyd’s Register group.

MSC FCP v2.2 SA Reporting Template v2.1 LR July 2020                               Page 3 of 41                                                                          www.lr.org
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1                Glossary
BMSY                                 Biomass that enables a fish stock to deliver the maximum sustainable yield
CAP                                  Client Action Plan
CAB                                  Conformity Assessment Body
CCMs                                 Commission Members, Cooperating non-Members, and participating Territories
CMM                                  Conservation and Management Measure
CoC                                  Chain of Custody
CoP                                  Code of Practice
DoC                                  New Zealand Department of Conservation
ETP                                  Endangered, Threatened or Protected species
FAD                                  Fish Aggregating Device
FMSY                                 Fishing mortality rate at the level that would produce maximum sustainable yield from a stock
                                     that has size of BMSY
FNZ                                  Fisheries New Zealand
FCR                                  MSC Fisheries Certification Requirements
HCR                                  Harvest Control Rule
HMS                                  Highly Migratory Species Section of FNZ
IATTC                                Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission
ISSF                                 International Seafood Sustainability Foundation
LRP                                  Limit Reference Point
MPI                                  New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries
MSC                                  Marine Stewardship Council
MSY                                  Maximum Sustainable Yield, the largest average catch that can be continuously taken from a
                                     stock under existing environmental conditions
NGO                                  Non-government Organisation
PNA                                  Parties to the Nauru Agreement
RFMO                                 Regional Fisheries Management Organization
SB                                   Spawning Biomass
SC                                   Scientific Committee of the WCPFC
SKJ                                  Skipjack tuna
SPC                                  Secretariat of the Pacific Community (formerly South Pacific Commission)
SSB                                  Spawning Stock Biomass (female biomass in the assessment)
TAC                                  Total Allowable Catch
TCC                                  Technical Compliance Committee of the WCPFC
TRP                                  Target Reference Point
UoA                                  Unit of Assessment
UoC                                  Unit of Certification
VMS                                  Vessel Monitoring System
WCPFC                                Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission
WCPO                                 Western and Central Pacific Ocean

Lloyd’s Register, LR and any variants are trading names of Lloyd’s Register Group Limited, its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Acoura Marine: trading as Lloyd's Register (Reg. no. SC313289).
Registered office: 50 Lothian Road, Festival Square, Edinburgh, EH3 9WJ. Registered in Scotland. A member of the Lloyd’s Register group.

MSC FCP v2.2 SA Reporting Template v2.1 LR July 2020                               Page 4 of 41                                            www.lr.org
Lloyd’s Register
3rd Surveillance Report
Talleys New Zealand Skipjack Tuna Purse Seine

2                Executive summary
This report constitutes the 3rd annual surveillance of Talley’s New Zealand Skipjack Tuna Purse Seine Fishery since
certification in 2017. The audit is undertaken in accordance with MSC Fisheries Certification Process (FCP) v.2.2
which became effective on 25th September 2020.
The objectives of the surveillance audit are:
      •     To review any changes to the fishery and its management;
      •     To evaluate performance in relation to any Conditions of Certification;
      •     To review any developments or changes within the fishery which impact traceability and the ability to segregate
            MSC from non-MSC products;
      •     To review any other significant changes in the fishery.

Conditions are in place for performance indicators 1.2.1 and 1.2.2. These conditions are common to several MSC
certified WCPO tuna fisheries and scoring of these performance indicators is harmonised for these fisheries (see
Section 5.4). A ‘hard deadline’ has been agreed by CABs for these conditions to be closed. Closing of the conditions
is subject to progress in the development of and agreement on appropriate harvest strategies by WCPFC. Progress
on these two conditions is found to be ‘on target’ at this surveillance audit.

A further condition was put in place at certification in relation to performance indicator 2.3.2. This performance
indicator has been re-scored at this audit and the condition has been closed.

Lloyd’s Register determines that:
      •     There were no material changes to the circumstances and practices affecting the original complying assessment
            of the fishery;
      •     This fishery continues to meet the MSC Standard;
      •     Progress on conditions is on target.
Lloyd’s Register confirms that the Talley’s New Zealand Skipjack Tuna Purse Seine Fishery continues to function as a
well-managed and sustainable fishery. Therefore, continued certification to the MSC Principles and Criteria for
Sustainable Fishing is awarded.
No changes occurred in this fishery that would result in a change to the surveillance schedule.

Lloyd’s Register, LR and any variants are trading names of Lloyd’s Register Group Limited, its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Acoura Marine: trading as Lloyd's Register (Reg. no. SC313289).
Registered office: 50 Lothian Road, Festival Square, Edinburgh, EH3 9WJ. Registered in Scotland. A member of the Lloyd’s Register group.

MSC FCP v2.2 SA Reporting Template v2.1 LR July 2020                               Page 5 of 41                                            www.lr.org
Lloyd’s Register
3rd Surveillance Report
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3                Report details
3.1              Surveillance information
Table 1. Surveillance information

         1           Fishery name

                     Talley’s New Zealand Skipjack Purse Seine

         2           Unit(s) of Assessment (UoA)

                     UoC
                                        Species: Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis)
                              Geographical area: NZ EEZ (referred to as area SKJ1)
                              Method of capture: Purse seine - Unassociated
                                          Stock: Western and Central Pacific Ocean
                             Management System: Key components of the governance and fisheries management
                                                 are the Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC)
                                                 and the New Zealand Government. Both have governance that is
                                                 consistent with the United Nations Convention for the Law of the
                                                 Sea (UNCLOS) and the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement
                                                 (UNFSA)
                                   Client Group: Talley’s Group Limited

                     Note that other eligible fishers may also be included in some Units of Assessment but not
                     initially certified (until covered by a certificate sharing arrangement).
                             Other Eligible Fishers: The client for this assessment (Talley’s) may make access to the
                                                     certificate open to additional operators who have vessels
                                                     permitted by the Ministry for Primary Industries to fish for
                                                     skipjack in the New Zealand waters using purse seine gear.

         3           Date certified                                                                   Date of expiry

                      28th August 2017                                                                 16th February 2023

         4           Surveillance level and type

                     Surveillance level 4, off-site surveillance audit

         5           Surveillance number

                     3rd Surveillance                                                                 X

         6           Surveillance team leader - Jo Akroyd
                     Jo is a fisheries management and marine ecosystem consultant with extensive international and Pacific
                     experience. She has worked at senior levels in both the public and private sectors as a fisheries manager

Lloyd’s Register, LR and any variants are trading names of Lloyd’s Register Group Limited, its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Acoura Marine: trading as Lloyd's Register (Reg. no. SC313289).
Registered office: 50 Lothian Road, Festival Square, Edinburgh, EH3 9WJ. Registered in Scotland. A member of the Lloyd’s Register group.

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                     and marine policy expert. Jo was with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in New Zealand for 20
                     years. Starting as a fisheries scientist, she was promoted to senior chief fisheries scientist, then Assistant
                     Director, Marine Research. She was awarded a Commemoration Medal in 1990 in recognition of her
                     pioneering work in establishing New Zealand’s fisheries quota management system. As well as carrying
                     out general fisheries consultancy since1994 she has undertaken all facets of MSC work as a lead
                     assessor, expert team member and peer reviewer across a wide range of fisheries. Jo has completed
                     the MSC v1.3, v2.0, v2.1 and v2.2 training modules including for enhanced fisheries, Risk based
                     framework and traceability. She is a member of the MSC’s Peer Review College.
                     MSC projects include Team Leader and Fisheries Management expert for New Zealand fisheries, (hoki,
                     hake, ling, southern blue whiting, albacore and skipjack), Fiji (albacore and yellowfin), Japan (scallops,
                     skipjack and yellowfin), China (scallops, flounder and snowcrab), Maldives (skipjack), Ross Sea
                     (toothfish), West Papua (skipjack and yellowfin). She has conducted multi species pre assessments in
                     Japan, China, Viet Nam and New Zealand and provided independent Peer review reports for tuna,
                     scallops and prawn fisheries in various countries.
                     Jo has passed MSC training and has no Conflict of Interest in relation to this fishery. Full CV available
                     upon request.
 Team
            Jo has completed a number of MSC assessment as TL and meets all Fishery TL Qualification and
 Leader
            Competency Criteria under MSC FCP v2.2 Table PC1 and MSC GCR v2.4.1 Table 1.
 Experience

         7           Surveillance team members - Kevin McLoughlin

                     Kevin is a specialist fisheries consultant based in Australia with more than 30 years’ experience across
                     a wide range of domestic and international science issues. Kevin’s experience in working on MSC
                     assessments spans over 10 years.
                     As a fisheries scientist with the Australian Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Kevin represented
                     the Australian Government on many committees and groups such as fishery assessment groups,
                     providing advice on a diverse range of fisheries and species (including tuna, shark, various finfish,
                     scallop and prawn). Work in assessment groups involved assessment of target species, development
                     of bycatch action plans and ecological risk assessments. Mr McLoughlin was a member of Australia’s
                     Bass Strait Scallop Fishery Assessment Group for more than 5 years. This Group developed the
                     harvest strategy for that fishery and evaluated the survey based approach to assessment of the fishery
                     status. He was responsible for the production of annual status reports for Australian government-
                     managed fisheries for more than 10 years, including the writing of annual status reports for the Bass
                     Strait Scallop Fishery. Mr. McLoughlin was also Australia’s delegate on scientific issues at the Indian
                     Ocean Tuna Commission and was Chair of the IOTC Working Party on Bycatch for several years.
                     Mr McLoughlin has worked predominantly on Principle 1 aspects of MSC assessments but has also
                     undertaken Principle 2 and 3 work, as well as peer review and surveillance audits for several fisheries.
                     Kevin was a team member for the full assessment of the Fiji longline fishery; the New Zealand
                     Albacore Fishery; the New Zealand Skipjack Fishery; the Parties to the Nauru Agreement Western and
                     Central Pacific Skipjack and Yellowfin purse seine fishery; the Tri Marine Western and Central Pacific
                     Skipjack and Yellowfin Tuna Fishery; and Australia’s blue grenadier fishery. He was a member of
                     teams assessing Australia’s Northern Prawn Fishery, Western Australia’s Exmouth Gulf and Shark Bay
                     prawn trawl fisheries, and South Australia’s Spencer Gulf prawn trawl fishery. He has also written a
                     pre-assessment for an Australian scallop fishery.
                     Kevin has passed MSC training and has no Conflict of Interest in relation to this fishery. Full CV
                     available upon request
 Local               English is widely spoken in New Zealand.
 Context             Both Jo and Kevin have been involved in this fishery since certification.
 Traceability Jo has completed the MSC traceability 2020 module

 RBF                 Jo and Kevin have completed the RBF training.

Lloyd’s Register, LR and any variants are trading names of Lloyd’s Register Group Limited, its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Acoura Marine: trading as Lloyd's Register (Reg. no. SC313289).
Registered office: 50 Lothian Road, Festival Square, Edinburgh, EH3 9WJ. Registered in Scotland. A member of the Lloyd’s Register group.

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         8           Audit/review time and location

                     The 2nd of December 2020 via online call platform.

         9           Assessment and review activities

                     All relevant data, progress on the Client Action Plan and progress on the three open conditions

        10           Stakeholder opportunities

                     Stakeholders were contacted and invited to either to speak with the assessment team via conference
                     call , or to submit comments for the team to review
                     Stakeholders were also provided a link
                     https://www.msc.org/what-you-can-do/engage-with-a-fishery-assessment
                     for stakeholder contributions.
                     There were no requests to speak to the team nor any written contributions.

3.2              Background
This section of the report outlines changes to the fishery since the 2 nd surveillance audit.

Changes in management system
There have been no important changes in the management system since the 2nd surveillance audit.
Skipjack tuna in the New Zealand EEZ continues to be managed as a non-quota species but the fishery is otherwise
subject to the same rules and regulations that apply to quota species. The activities by skipjack fishers are subject to
the Fisheries Act 1996 and to the management objectives as defined in the National Fisheries Plan for Highly
Migratory Species and the Annual Operational Plan for Highly Migratory Species Fisheries.

Changes in relevant regulations
National
No changes in relevant New Zealand management regulations.
Regional
Conservation Management Measures (CMMs) adopted since the 2nd surveillance audit are listed in Table 2. Eight new
CMMs and one Resolution were adopted at WCPFC16 in December 2019.

Table 2. Updates to CMMs adopted by WCPFC in 2019. Source: WCPFC, 2019
                                                   Title
                CMM 2019-01                        Cooperating Non-Members (replaced CMM 2009-11)
                CMM 2019-02                        Conservation and Management Measure for Pacific Bluefin (replaced
                                                   CMM 2018-02)
                CMM 2019-03                        Conservation and Management Measure for North Pacific Albacore
                                                   (replaced CMM 2005-03)
                CMM 2019-04                        Conservation and Management Measure for Sharks
                                                   (effective 1 November 2020)
                CMM 2019-05                        Conservation and Management Measure on Mobulid Rays caught in
                                                   association with fisheries in the WCPFC Convention Area
                                                   (effective 1 January 2021)
Lloyd’s Register, LR and any variants are trading names of Lloyd’s Register Group Limited, its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Acoura Marine: trading as Lloyd's Register (Reg. no. SC313289).
Registered office: 50 Lothian Road, Festival Square, Edinburgh, EH3 9WJ. Registered in Scotland. A member of the Lloyd’s Register group.

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                CMM 2019-06                        Conservation and Management Measure for the Compliance Monitoring
                                                   Scheme (replaced CMM 2018-07)
                CMM 2019-07                        Conservation and Management Measure to establish a list of vessels
                                                   presumed to have carried out Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing
                                                   Activities in the Western Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO; replaced CMM
                                                   2010-06)
                CMM 2019-08                        Conservation and Management Measure for Charter Notification Scheme

                Resolution 2019-01                 Resolution on climate change as it relates to the WCPFC

CMM 2018-01 (for bigeye, yellowfin and skipjack tuna in the WCPO) continues to detail the key measures applying to
target species. Pending the establishment of harvest strategies, the purpose of this measure is to provide for a robust
transitional management regime that ensures the sustainability of bigeye, yellowfin and skipjack tuna stocks.
CMM 2019-05 (on Mobulid Rays caught in association with fisheries in the WCPFC Convention Area) comes into
effect on 1 January 2021. This CMM adopts a non-retention policy for mobulids and details handling practices for
these species.

Changes to personnel involved in science, management or industry
Fisheries in New Zealand are the responsibility of Fisheries New Zealand (FNZ), an entity within the Ministry for
Primary Industries (MPI). There have been no changes to the FNZ Highly Migratory Species team. There has been
one staff change in the FNZ International Fisheries Policy team, with Anne Wietheger replaced by John Willmer.
There have been no changes in personnel of the industry client fishery.

Changes to scientific base of information, including stock assessments
As described in the 2nd surveillance audit report for the fishery, CABs submitted a combined tuna fishery Variation
Request in December 11, 2018 to address inconsistencies and align differences in timelines for meeting harvest
strategy conditions between MSC Certified tuna fisheries. The Variation Request proposed a ‘hard deadline’ approach
to Principle 1 condition timelines. The Variation Request and MSC’s response are available at:
https://fisheries.msc.org/en/fisheries/talleys-new-zealand-skipjack-tuna-purse-seine/@@assessments. Subsequently,
a meeting of CABs in September 2020 agreed an extension of 6 months on the previous ‘hard deadline’ outcomes
due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic (Stakeholder Announcement: Mega Tuna VR update; released October
2020; https://fisheries.msc.org/en/fisheries/talleys-new-zealand-skipjack-tuna-purse-seine/@@assessments).
The indicated deadlines for the skipjack UoA are:

                                               RFMO workplan                              Original condition                   Revised condition end date
                                           completion date at time                        end date as per of                   based on the MSC’s March
                                            of 2019 CAB variation                        2019 CAB variation                    2020 COVID-19 derogation
                                                                                        HS in place at the
                                                                                        Regular Session of the                             June 2022
         UoA – Skipjack                                   2021
                                                                                        Commission –
                                                                                        December 2021

The October 2020 CAB stakeholder announcement indicates that evidence for whether the deadlines are met for each
stock will be taken from the report which follows the relevant RFMO annual meeting. Information on harmonised
fisheries is given at Section 5.4.

Catch
Catch estimates for all tuna and billfish species fished in the WCPFC statistical area are compiled annually by the
Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) based on reports provided by the Commission Members, Cooperating
non-Members, and participating Territories (CCMs). The 2019 WCPO skipjack catch of 2,034,230 t was a record. It
was about 10% higher than the 2018 catch and around 45,000 t higher than the previous record of 2014 (1,978,927 t)
(Williams and Ruaia, 2020). WCPO catches and catch are shown in Figure 1 and the catch distribution for 1990-2019
in Figure 2.

Lloyd’s Register, LR and any variants are trading names of Lloyd’s Register Group Limited, its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Acoura Marine: trading as Lloyd's Register (Reg. no. SC313289).
Registered office: 50 Lothian Road, Festival Square, Edinburgh, EH3 9WJ. Registered in Scotland. A member of the Lloyd’s Register group.

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                             Figure 1. WCPO skipjack catch (t) by year. (Source: Williams and Ruaia, 2020)

                             Figure 2. Distribution of skipjack tuna catch 1990-2019. (Source: Williams and Ruaia, 2020)

The New Zealand fishery operates over 4-5 months during the summer, when the distribution of WCPO skipjack is at
its southern-most extent. The fishery occurs primarily off the east and west coasts of North Island (Figure 3). Most of
the skipjack catch in New Zealand waters is of juvenile fish. Almost 100% of the skipjack catch in the NZ EEZ in
recent years has been taken by a single large purse seiner (the client vessel, FV Captain MJ Souza, ~70 m in length)
and four small purse seiners (< 400 GRT, ~30 m in length). In the 2019/20 fishing season (1 October to 30
September) four vessels, including the client vessel, were active in the fishery. New Zealand continues to provide
catch and size frequency information from its domestic purse seine fishery to SPC on an annual basis.
        Table 3. Skipjack catch (t) in the New Zealand EEZ. Year = New Zealand fishing year, 1 October to 30
                                                     September
                                             Year                      2016/17   2017/18      2018/19                           2019/20
                                        EEZ total catch                5,438      3,821        5,519                            5,179*
                                        Client catch                   2,937      1,307        1,345                            1,878*
                                                                         *2019/20 catch is provisional

Lloyd’s Register, LR and any variants are trading names of Lloyd’s Register Group Limited, its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Acoura Marine: trading as Lloyd's Register (Reg. no. SC313289).
Registered office: 50 Lothian Road, Festival Square, Edinburgh, EH3 9WJ. Registered in Scotland. A member of the Lloyd’s Register group.

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                   Figure 3. Distribution of purse seine effort and catch (tonnes per one degree square) in 2019
                   (Source: Talley’s, 2020).

Stock status
As reported at the 2nd surveillance of the fishery, an updated assessment for skipjack was undertaken in 2019 and
presented to the 2019 SC meeting. The 2019 assessment (Vincent et al., 2019) again concluded that the skipjack
stock is not overfished, nor subject to overfishing.
The 2019 assessment includes an additional three years of data available since the 2016 assessment and the model
extends through to the end of 2018. The updated model addresses the recommendations of the 2016 stock
assessment report and incorporates new data sources such as maturity-at-length, creation of an additional spatial
structure, exploration of model uncertainty, and improving the diagnostics of previous assessments (Vincent et al.,
2019).

General conclusions of the 2019 assessment include:
   • Total biomass and spawning potential remained relatively stable, with fluctuations, until the mid-2000s, after
       which it declined. Estimated recruitment shows an increasing trend from 1980 to the recent period.
   • Average F rates for juvenile and adult age-classes increase throughout the period of the assessment.
   • Two region-model structures were examined. The 8-region model structure provided slightly more optimistic
       estimates of stock status when compared to the 5-region model structure. In both cases, the stock was
       assessed to be above the adopted limit reference point (LRP), and fished at rates below F MSY, with 100%
       probability. It is concluded that the skipjack stock is not overfished, nor subject to overfishing.
   • Overall median depletion over the recent period (2015-2018; SBrecent/SBF=0) was 0.44 (80 percentile range
       0.36-0.52) for the 8-region model, and 0.40 (80 percentile range 0.30-0.50) for the 5-region model.
   • Results from both regional structures indicate a stock status currently on average below the interim TRP for
       skipjack.
           o For the 8-region grid, 47 of the 54 models (85%) estimated SBrecent/SBF=0 to be less than the TRP
                (50%SBF=0).
           o For the 5-region grid, 48 of the 54 models (87%) estimated SBrecent/SBF=0 to be less than the TRP
                (50%SBF=0).
   • Recent median fishing mortality (2014-2017; Frecent/FMSY) was 0.44 (80 percentile range 0.34-0.61) for the 8-
       region model, and 0.48 (80 percentile range 0.35-0.66) for the 5-region model.

The Kobe plot shows the recent fishing mortality and spawning potential relative to spawning potential at maximum
sustainable yield (MSY) for all models in the structural uncertainty grid for (i) spawning potential in the recent time
period (2015-2018) in Figure 4 (WCPFC-SC, 2019).

Lloyd’s Register, LR and any variants are trading names of Lloyd’s Register Group Limited, its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Acoura Marine: trading as Lloyd's Register (Reg. no. SC313289).
Registered office: 50 Lothian Road, Festival Square, Edinburgh, EH3 9WJ. Registered in Scotland. A member of the Lloyd’s Register group.

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Figure 4. Kobe plot for the recent spawning potential (2015-2018) summarizing the results for each of the
models in the structural uncertainty grid. The plots represent estimates of stock status in terms of spawning
potential depletion and fishing mortality and marginal distributions of each are presented. Brown triangle
indicates the median of the estimates. The size of the circle relates to the weight of that particular model run.
Source: WCPFC-SC, 2019

SC15 concluded that the stock was assessed to be above the adopted LRP and fished at rates below F MSY with 100%
probability, i.e. the stock is not overfished nor subject to overfishing. At the same time, it was also noted that fishing
mortality is continuously increasing for both adult and juvenile while the spawning biomass reached the historical
lowest level.

The next stock assessment update for skipjack is scheduled for 2022.

Harvest strategy and harvest control rules
The general management of skipjack tuna has not changed to any substantial degree since certification that would
affect the client fishery. The current harvest strategy relies on annual decision-making processes founded on the core
principles of the WCPFC as laid out in its Convention and in a growing body of CMMs (see
https://www.wcpfc.int/conservation-and-management-measures). CMM 2018-01 came into effect on 13 February 2019
(replacing CMM 2017-01 and predecessors) and shall remain in effect until 10 February 2021 unless replaced earlier
or amended by the Commission. It sets conditions of harvest for skipjack, yellowfin, and other tunas. CMM 2018-01
states that: “Pending the establishment of harvest strategies, and any implementing CMM, the purpose of this
measure is to provide for a robust transitional management regime that ensures the sustainability of bigeye, skipjack,
and yellowfin tuna stocks.”
Conditions are in place for skipjack for PIs 1.2.1 and 1.2.2. As reported in the Public Certification Report for the fishery
(Akroyd and McLoughlin, 2017), WCPFC CMM 2014-06 was adopted to develop and implement a harvest strategy
approach for key fish stocks in the WCPO. The CMM identifies the elements that harvest strategies are to contain
(including defined operational objectives, TRPs and LRPs for each stock, acceptable levels of risk of not breaching
limit reference points, a monitoring strategy, decision rules that aim to achieve the TRP and avoid the LRP, and
management strategy evaluation). CMM 2014-06 required the development of a workplan for its implementation, first
adopted at WCPFC12 (WCPFC12, 2015; Attachment Y). There have been several revisions to the workplan in
subsequent years. A range of harvest strategy related research was presented and discussed by WCPFC16.
WCPFC16 agreed to further workplan changes which delay the implementation of elements of the harvest strategy for
skipjack (WCPFC 2019, Attachment H). The updated plan recognises the need for additional time to develop the
harvest strategy for the skipjack and yellowfin (WCPFC, 2019, Attachment H).
Lloyd’s Register, LR and any variants are trading names of Lloyd’s Register Group Limited, its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Acoura Marine: trading as Lloyd's Register (Reg. no. SC313289).
Registered office: 50 Lothian Road, Festival Square, Edinburgh, EH3 9WJ. Registered in Scotland. A member of the Lloyd’s Register group.

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At WCPFC SC16 (August 2020), several working papers relating to the development of
management measures for skipjack were considered, including:
      •     Updates to WCPO skipjack tuna projected stock status to inform consideration of an updated target reference
            point (SC16-MI-WP-02);
      •     Overview of recent developments and key decisions for harvest strategies for WCPFC stocks and fisheries
            (SC16-2020-MI-WP-03);
      •     Developing the monitoring strategy for the WCPFC harvest strategy for WCPO skipjack (SC16-MI-IP02);
      •     Results of re-evaluations of management procedures for skipjack tuna in the WCPO (SC16-MI-IP-03);
      •     Developing management procedures for WCPO skipjack: The estimation model (SC16-MI-IP-09);
      •     Simulating future data for WCPO skipjack harvest strategy evaluations (SC16-MI-IP-10).

A limit reference point (LRP) for skipjack of 0.2SBF=0, was adopted in 2012 and an interim target reference point (TRP)
of 0.5SBF=0 was adopted in 2015. WCPFC16 requested that the science provider (SPC) undertake analyses to
examine candidate interim skipjack TRPs of 42%, 44%, 46% and 50% of SB/SB F=0. SC16 noted that, on the basis of
the improved biological understanding of the stock and the changed stock status following the 2019 stock
assessment, the TRP objective of achieving 2012 effort levels or stock status was now revised from 50% to 42%
SBF=0 (WCPFC-SC, 2020). The candidate TRPs from SC16-MI-WP-02 will be considered by WCPFC17 in December
2020.
Whilst there have been revisions to the CMM 2014-06 workplan, it is evident that good progress has been made by
SPC in delivering on harvest strategy requirements.

Recent developments with the WCPFC harvest strategy are discussed further in the reporting on the progress against
the conditions in Section 4.3.2.

Update on Principle 2 information:
For the surveillance audit, the client provided information on recent catch composition from observed trips conducted in
this fishery. During the 2018 and 2019 calendar years, skipjack comprised 99.6% of the total observed catch as
determined for 103 sets (67 sets in 2018 and 36 in 2019) (Table 4) (Talley’s, 2020). The latest New Zealand observer
coverage on the Captain MJ Souza was Jan-March 2018 (41 days, 39 sets).
Table 4. Catch composition from five observed purse seine trips during the 2018 and 2019 financial years (Talley’s, 2020).

Lloyd’s Register, LR and any variants are trading names of Lloyd’s Register Group Limited, its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Acoura Marine: trading as Lloyd's Register (Reg. no. SC313289).
Registered office: 50 Lothian Road, Festival Square, Edinburgh, EH3 9WJ. Registered in Scotland. A member of the Lloyd’s Register group.

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The area of operation of the skipjack purse seine fishery overlaps spinetail devil ray
distribution off the northeast coast of New Zealand’s North Island. A condition was raised at certification in relation to
spinetail devil ray (PI 2.3.2). Observed interactions with spinetail devil ray in 2018 and 2019 are shown in Table 4.
Four spinetail devil rays were captured and released alive in 2019 (WCPFC-SC, 2020). Interactions are also reported
in commercial logbooks. Most of the captures are reported as released alive, and while care is taken during their
release they occasionally incur injuries (Table 5). The client has adopted operational procedures for the release of
protected species, including spinetail devil rays. ‘Pop-up’ satellite tags have been used in a recent study to examine
post-release survival of spinetail devil rays. Sixteen devil rays were tagged with ‘pop-up’ tags during 2013 to 2018,
and 14 of the tags transmitted data, allowing a determination of whether the devil rays had survived 30 days following
tag and release. Four of the first seven devil rays tagged in 2013−2015 (57%) died. However, only one of seven devil
rays tagged in 2016−2018 (14%) died. All mortalities of tagged rays resulted from skunked sets (i.e. sets with no or
minimal catch of the target tuna) followed by lifting of devil rays aboard in the net. In contrast, all devil rays that were
tagged from successful sets were brailed aboard, and all of them survived (Francis and Jones, 2019). Although the
number of rays tagged is too small to draw solid conclusions, a reduction in the mortality rate of released devil rays is
consistent with observed improvements in handling and releasing methods used by purse seine crews (Francis and
Jones, 2019). No spinetail devil ray captures were reported from the 39 sets observed on the Captain MJ Souza in
2018.
No seabirds, marine mammals or turtles were reported caught in the 2019 observer data. In addition, no oceanic
whitetip sharks, silky sharks, whale sharks or great white sharks were reported caught.
                   Table 5. Commercial reported protected spinetail devil ray interactions in the skipjack purse seine
                   fishery over the last five financial years (Talley’s, 2020).

Update on Principle 3 information:
In addition to WCPFC approaches to management of WCPO tuna fishery management arrangements, New Zealand
has well-developed management systems. The New Zealand National Fisheries Plan for Highly Migratory Species
2019 provides the strategic framework for the management of New Zealand’s HMS fisheries. It establishes multi-year
objectives for the management of New Zealand’s tuna and billfish fisheries as well as strategies for achieving them
(Talley’s, 2020). The Plan also identifies performance indicators as a basis for monitoring and evaluating the
achievement of the Plan’s objectives (FNZ 2019).
The Plan is implemented through an Annual Operational Plan (AOP), which provides the short-term operational
objectives for HMS fisheries and which is updated annually. This document details the day-to-day tasks and
management initiatives to be implemented for the skipjack fishery during the course of the year. Key focus areas for
2020-21 include:
      •     Contributing to international processes through RFMOs, including ‘Supporting international fisheries
            management with WCPFC work items as and when required’
      •     Contributing to the MPI Pacific fisheries capacity development programme, Te Pãtuitanga Ahumoana a Kiwa.
            This support includes assisting Pacific Island countries and territories to develop national governance
            approaches, including fisheries management system development and implementation. This support may have
            far-reaching outcomes for WCPFC Harvest Strategy adoption.

Lloyd’s Register, LR and any variants are trading names of Lloyd’s Register Group Limited, its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Acoura Marine: trading as Lloyd's Register (Reg. no. SC313289).
Registered office: 50 Lothian Road, Festival Square, Edinburgh, EH3 9WJ. Registered in Scotland. A member of the Lloyd’s Register group.

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The AOP also outlines the HMS Research Plan for the year, provides details of the research
projects to be undertaken, and provides the planned allocation of fishery observer days for each fishery. Management
performance is reviewed annually, and reported in an Annual Review Report (FNZ 2020).

3.3              Version details

Table 6. Fisheries program documents versions

 Document                                                                                                                                  Version number

 MSC Fisheries Certification Process                                                                                                        Version 2.2

 MSC Fisheries Standard                                                                                                                    Version 2.01*

 MSC General Certification Requirements                                                                                                    Version 2.4.1

 MSC Surveillance Reporting Template                                                                                                        Version 2.1

* default assessment tree

Lloyd’s Register, LR and any variants are trading names of Lloyd’s Register Group Limited, its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Acoura Marine: trading as Lloyd's Register (Reg. no. SC313289).
Registered office: 50 Lothian Road, Festival Square, Edinburgh, EH3 9WJ. Registered in Scotland. A member of the Lloyd’s Register group.

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4                Results
4.1              Surveillance results overview
         4.1.1 Summary of conditions

Table 7. Summary of conditions

 Condition                                                            Performance
           Condition                                                                             Status                          PI original score PI revised score
 number                                                               Indicator (PI)
                  SI a) By the fourth
                  surveillance audit,
                  demonstrate that the harvest
                  strategy for skipjack tuna is
                  responsive to the state of the
 1                stock and the elements of      1.2.1                                                  On target                          70       Not revised
                  the harvest strategy work
                  together towards achieving
                  stock management
                  objectives reflected in PI
                  1.1.1 SG80.
                  SI a) By the fourth surveillance
                  audit, demonstrate that well
                  defined HCRs are in place that
                  ensure that the exploitation rate
                  is reduced as the PRI is
                  approached, are expected to
                  keep the stock fluctuating
                  around a target level consistent
                  with (or above) MSY.
                  SI b) By the fourth surveillance
 2                                                  1.2.2                                               On target                          60       Not revised
                  audit, provide evidence that the
                  HCRs are likely to be robust to
                  the main uncertainties.
                  SI c) By the fourth surveillance
                  audit, demonstrate that
                  available evidence indicates
                  that the tools in use are
                  appropriate and effective in
                  achieving the exploitation levels
                  required under the HCRs.
                  SI c) By the second surveillance
                  audit, provide evidence that
                  there is an objective basis for
                  confidence that the
                  measures/strategy in place for
 3                managing the UoA’s impact on                                 2.3.2                      Closed                           75            85
                  ETP species (in particular, the
                  spinetail devil ray) will work,
                  based on information directly
                  about the fishery and/or the
                  species involved.

Lloyd’s Register, LR and any variants are trading names of Lloyd’s Register Group Limited, its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Acoura Marine: trading as Lloyd's Register (Reg. no. SC313289).
Registered office: 50 Lothian Road, Festival Square, Edinburgh, EH3 9WJ. Registered in Scotland. A member of the Lloyd’s Register group.

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         4.1.2 Total Allowable Catch (TAC) and catch data
Table 8. Total Allowable Catch (TAC) and catch data

 TAC                                                                              Year                           n/a                       Amount      n/a

 UoA share of TAC                                                                 Year                           n/a                       Amount      n/a

 UoA share of total TAC                                                           Year                           n/a                       Amount      n/a

                                                                             Year (most                                                               1,878 t
 Total green weight catch by UoC                                                                              2019/20                      Amount
                                                                              recent)                                                               provisional
                                                                           Year (second
 Total green weight catch by UoC                                                                              2018/19                      Amount    1,345 t
                                                                           most recent)
                                                                             Year (most                                                               5,179 t
 Total green weight catch by UoA                                                                              2019/20                      Amount
                                                                              recent)                                                               provisional
                                                                           Year (second
 Total green weight catch by UoA                                                                              2018/19                      Amount    5,519 t
                                                                           most recent)

         4.1.3 Recommendations
No recommendations are made

     4.2         Re-scoring Performance Indicators
Table 9. Re-scoring of PI 2.3.2
Amended text is in red.
                   The UoA has in place precautionary management strategies designed to:
                             • meet national and international requirements;
 PI 2.3.2                    • ensure the UoA does not hinder recovery of ETP species.

                             Also, the UoA regularly reviews and implements measures, as appropriate, to
                             minimise the mortality of ETP species.
 Scoring Issue               SG 60                      SG 80                   SG 100
 a           Management strategy in place (national and international requirements)
             Guide           There are measures in                       There is a strategy in                       There is a
             post            place that minimise the                     place for managing the                       comprehensive strategy
                             UoA-related mortality of                    UoA’s impact on ETP                          in place for managing the
                             ETP species, and are                        species, including                           UoA’s impact on ETP
                             expected to be highly                       measures to minimise                         species, including
                             likely to achieve national                  mortality, which is                          measures to minimise
                             and international                           designed to be highly                        mortality, which is
                             requirements for the                        likely to achieve national                   designed to achieve
                             protection of ETP                           and international                            above national and
                             species.                                    requirements for the                         international requirements
                                                                         protection of ETP                            for the protection of ETP
                                                                         species.                                     species.
             Met?            Y                                           Y                                            Not scoredN
             Justifi         Key legislation for the UoA for ETP species includes the Fisheries Act (1996),
             cation          Wildlife Act (1953), Marine Mammals Protection Act (1978), and specific regulations
                             for birds (relating to bycatch mitigation approaches). There is a requirement to
                             report injury or mortality of protected species to the DoC (without offence). National
Lloyd’s Register, LR and any variants are trading names of Lloyd’s Register Group Limited, its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Acoura Marine: trading as Lloyd's Register (Reg. no. SC313289).
Registered office: 50 Lothian Road, Festival Square, Edinburgh, EH3 9WJ. Registered in Scotland. A member of the Lloyd’s Register group.

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                             The UoA has in place precautionary management strategies designed to:
                             • meet national and international requirements;
 PI 2.3.2                    • ensure the UoA does not hinder recovery of ETP species.

                             Also, the UoA regularly reviews and implements measures, as appropriate, to
                             minimise the mortality of ETP species.
                             Plans of Action have been implemented for seabirds and sharks. Environmental risk
                             assessments have been undertaken for seabirds and are ongoing for sharks. There
                             are also requirements under WCPFC for seabirds and sharks.
                             The national requirements for ETP protection in New Zealand law notes that while
                             interactions are not forbidden (i.e. not zero), the law requires interactions to be
                             reported on MPI’s Non-fish and Protected Species Catch Return form. The long-
                             term aim is to minimise mortalities where possible, with the zero interactions being
                             described as the aspirational objective. The approach requiring reporting of
                             interactions, combined with observer coverage. provides good information on the
                             potential effects of the fishery on ETP species. No specific limits on interactions
                             have been set.
                             There are also several WCPFC CMMs in place to deal with ETPs. For example,
                             there are CMMs with specific measures for silky sharks (2013-08), oceanic whitetip
                             sharks (CMM 2011-04) and whale sharks (CMM 2012-04), as well as CMMs for
                             cetaceans (2011-03), and for turtles (CMM 2008-03). These are considered to
                             constitute a strategy to manage the fishery’s impact on ETP species. The design of
                             this strategy is considered highly likely to achieve the national and international
                             requirements for protection. It is not, however, assessed as being designed to
                             achieve above these requirements. This meets the requirements of the SG60 and
                             SG80 levels. SG100 is not scored due to SG80 not being met at 2.3.2c.
                             Spinetail devil rays are a species of concern. Given their protected status, spinetail
                             devil rays are released when captured. Between 2005 and 2014, spinetail devil rays
                             were caught in 8.2% of all observed skipjack purse seine sets in NZ waters (Jones
                             and Francis, 2012).
                             In addition, CMM 2019-05 (on Mobulid Rays caught in association with fisheries in
                             the WCPFC Convention Area) comes into effect on 1 January 2021. This CMM
                             adopts a non-retention policy for mobulids and details handling practices for these
                             species.
                             New Zealand has developed Operating Procedures (Ops) which set out the
                             management measures required by MPI and DoC by law (the mandatory
                             measures) as well as additional best practice measures and reporting
                             requirements. The OPs have been established so that protected species risk
                             reduction practices are documented and able to be understood by vessel owners,
                             skippers and crew (see additional comments at 2.3.2(c)).
                             The WCPFC measures in place and the provisions of New Zealand legislation
                             comprise a strategy appropriate to meet SG60 and SG80 requirements. A
                             ‘comprehensive strategy’ comprises a complete and tested strategy made up of
                             linked monitoring, analyses, and management measures and responses. It is not
                             evident that the strategy in place meets these SG100 requirements.

 b           Management strategy in place (alternative)
             Guide           There are measures in                       There is a strategy in                       There is a
             post            place that are expected to                  place that is expected to                    comprehensive strategy
                             ensure the UoA does not                     ensure the UoA does not                      in place for managing
                             hinder the recovery of                      hinder the recovery of                       ETP species, to ensure
                             ETP species.                                ETP species.                                 the UoA does not hinder
                                                                                                                      the recovery of ETP
                                                                                                                      species

Lloyd’s Register, LR and any variants are trading names of Lloyd’s Register Group Limited, its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Acoura Marine: trading as Lloyd's Register (Reg. no. SC313289).
Registered office: 50 Lothian Road, Festival Square, Edinburgh, EH3 9WJ. Registered in Scotland. A member of the Lloyd’s Register group.

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                             The UoA has in place precautionary management strategies designed to:
                             • meet national and international requirements;
 PI 2.3.2                    • ensure the UoA does not hinder recovery of ETP species.

                             Also, the UoA regularly reviews and implements measures, as appropriate, to
                             minimise the mortality of ETP species.
             Met?            Not relevant               Not relevant            Not relevant
             Justifi         NZ legislation is in place which provides requirements for the protection of ETP
             cation          species.

 c           Management strategy evaluation
             Guide           The measures are                            There is an objective                        The strategy/
             post            considered likely to                        basis for confidence                         comprehensive strategy is
                             work, based on plausible                    that the                                     mainly based on
                             argument (e.g., general                     measures/strategy will                       information directly about
                             experience, theory or                       work, based on                               the fishery and/or species
                             comparison with similar                     information directly                         involved, and a
                             fisheries/species).                         about the fishery and/or                     quantitative analysis
                                                                         the species involved.                        supports high
                                                                                                                      confidence that the
                                                                                                                      strategy will work.
             Met?            Y                                           NY                                           Not scored
             Justifi         There is an objective basis for confidence that, in general, the fishery has a low
             cation          impact on ETP species. However, as indicated above, spinetail devil rays are a
                             species of concern.
                             Reported mobulid ray catches from other MSC-assessed fishery are not always to
                             the species level. The Tri Marine MSC assessment (Morison and McLoughlin 2015)
                             indicates that 624 devil rays were captured and discarded by U.S. purse seine
                             vessels in unassociated sets between 2010 and 2013. The PNA MSC assessment
                             (Banks et al. 2011) indicates an annual average of 8.3 t of manta rays (unidentified)
                             being caught in unassociated sets between 2005 and 2008 (0.01% of the catch).
                             In examining cumulative/global impacts, Hall and Roman (2013) conclude that “the
                             impacts of the purse seine captures and bycatch on the population dynamics of the
                             pelagic stingrays are probably negligible. With regard to manta and devil rays, the
                             numbers cannot be placed in perspective because of the lack of population
                             abundances and stock structure information. Although the overall numbers are not
                             large, care must be exercised when the effort concentrates in patches where it may
                             cause localized impacts on subpopulations whose genetic structure is not well
                             known. The development of better techniques to release these species is an
                             important step for eliminating this bycatch”.
                             Given their protected status in NZ, spinetail devil rays are released when captured.
                             Between 2005 and 2014, spinetail devil rays were caught in 8.2% of all observed
                             skipjack purse seine sets in NZ waters (Jones and Francis, 2012). Tables 8 & 9
                             indicated a high rate of released spinetail rays being ‘alive and uninjured’. A code of
                             practice is in development which includes information on the handling of sharks and
                             rays. However, recent research indicates a potential high level of mortality of
                             released specimens (Francis and Jones 2016). A project to attach archival tags to
                             spinetail devil rays has operated since 2013. A total of nine tags have been
                             deployed. Overall, seven of the nine tags reported data, and four of those rays died
                             within 2–4 days of release. All four rays that died had been brought aboard
                             entangled in the bunt. The three surviving rays were all brailed aboard with the tuna
                             catch. Francis and Jones (2016) acknowledges that it is premature to draw
                             conclusions about survival rates of devil rays based on seven tags returning data.
                             Nevertheless, the four deaths observed out of seven rays indicate that mortality
Lloyd’s Register, LR and any variants are trading names of Lloyd’s Register Group Limited, its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Acoura Marine: trading as Lloyd's Register (Reg. no. SC313289).
Registered office: 50 Lothian Road, Festival Square, Edinburgh, EH3 9WJ. Registered in Scotland. A member of the Lloyd’s Register group.

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