Catch history

With respect to the assessment of SPRFMO orange roughy stocks and ensuring sustainable fisheries, the Scientific Committee: i) Noting that the stocks on the Louisville Ridge (Louisville North, Central and South) have a lower potential of having low stock status, recommends a catch limit for the whole of the Louisville Ridge based on the sum of the 50th percentile yield estimates provided in SC5-DW14, the CHA stock assessment method, of 1,140 tonnes to apply for the area for no more than 2 years. A significantly more precautionary approach is recommended if insufficient advancement is made in data collection and stock assessments for the relevant stocks within 2 years. The Scientific Committee recommends that, within this group, the Louisville Central stock should be prioritised for improved data collection and stock assessment. ii) Noting that the stocks in the Tasman Sea (Lord Howe Rise, Northwest Challenger Plateau, and West Norfolk Ridge) are estimated to have a higher potential of being depleted, recommends a catch limit for the Tasman Sea stocks based on a 0.5 scaling of the 50th percentile yield estimates provided for relevant stocks in SC5-DW14 (690 tonnes) from the CHA stock assessment method, resulting in a catch limit of 346 tonnes for the area to apply for no more than 3 years. A significantly more precautionary approach is recommended if insufficient advancement is made in data collection to support stock assessments for the relevant stocks in 3 years. The SC recommend that, within this group, the Lord Howe Rise and Northwest Challenger Plateau stocks should be prioritised for improved data collection and stock assessment. iii) Notes that New Zealand will advise the Commission on an allowance for Westpac Bank which would be in addition to the limit proposed above. iv) Recommends no allowance be included for the South Tasman Rise area which is closed to fishing by Australian and New Zealand vessels.