The New Zealand Best Fish Guide - SEAFOOD Ecolabelling: Principles and Practice - page 379

Table 18.5 Scores for protected species or threatened species bycatch.

Score Note

A Fishery catches no protected species or threatened species bycatch

B Fishery catches less than 10 per annum of non-threatened protected species

C Fishery catches less than 20 per annum of non-threatened protected species or catches

non-threatened species

D Fishery catches vulnerable or near-threatened species or catches large numbers of

protected species over 20 per annum

E Fishery catches endangered or critically endangered species

E Fishery catches more than 100 threatened or protected species annually

(now managed within the same quota management unit) live longer, reaching a
maximum age of 21 years and 16 years, respectively (Stevens et al . 2001).
An additional risk can be the management of several stocks of the same species
as one quota or fisheries management area. Separate stocks are considered to be
separate breeding populations. Managing several stocks together can lead to one
stock, particularly the smaller stock, being over-exploited. For example, the two
hoki stocks in New Zealand are managed as one quota unit and one TACC.
For some species there is an added risk of serial depletion if the stock unit is
a small geographical unit as in the case of cockles ( Austrovenus stutchburyi ) and
paua (abalone) ( Haliotis iris ) (McShane & Naylor 1995). The quota management
species have usually had catch limits established for large areas that do not take into
account the potential for serial depletion of discrete sub-units (based on spawning
populations). Quota management areas (usually 10) are often inappropriate for
stock assessment purposes.
In 2005 this criterion was modified to take into account the management of
straddling stocks and highly migratory species. This includes whether there is a
convention or agreement for this species and whether it is taking effective action,
and whether there is significant illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) activity.
Risks posed by managing multiple species as one unit or not dividing stocks into
different management areas were scored from A to E.

18.3.4 Weighting
The criteria were not considered equal in their contribution to the overall ecolog-
ical sustainability of a fish stock and the impact of the fishery on the associated
ecosystems, so weighting was applied (see Table 18.6). Overall, fish stock status
and sustainable yield were considered to be the best indicator of ecological sus-
tainability, followed by fishing method, biology, integrity of management unit, and
overall management and research. Protected species or globally threatened species
bycatch were given a similar rating to 'status and sustainable yield' because these