Blue cod industry drives survey

Southern commercial blue cod fishermen and industry stakeholders are pumping $250,000 into a four-year survey of their fishery in a bid to ensure a sustainable future.

About 25 blue cod fishermen and stakeholders met last night in Bluff to go over details of the survey, which many would conduct from their own boats.

Southeast Finfish Management chief executive Pete Dawson said the $500,000 survey would be half- funded by the fishermen and industry stakeholders and half by crown company Seafood Innovations.

Using log books, underwater video footage, fish tagging methods and more, a database of the fish and the fishery would be gathered and a harvest and management strategy put in place, Mr Dawson said.

It was the first time it had been done with fin fish in Southland but was happening throughout the world so fishermen had a better understanding of their fishery, he said.

Bluff fisherman Rewi Bull said blue cod numbers had been declining in recent years and something had to be done.

"We want to gather this data and see what it can tell us. This is a starting point, hopefully we can get on and do something about it."

Invercargill blue cod quota holder and fish factory owner Vic Thompson said it was up to the stakeholders to ensure the fishery was there in perpetuity.

Fisheries Ministry analyst Allen Frazer said 1300 tonnes of blue cod was caught in the southern area in the 12 months to October 2008 200 tonnes less than the 1500-tonne quota.

The ministry was also to undertake a survey of the blue cod fishery next year, Mr Frazer said.

- © Fairfax NZ News