- Branches
- Campaigns
- Events
- Lodges
- News
- Partnerships
- Projects
- Publications
- 2010 Annual Report
- Annual Report 08/09
- A Sustainable Vision
- Branch Newsletters
- Fact Sheets
- Forest & Bird Magazine
- Media Releases
- The Best Fish Guide
- Fish Species
- Albacore Tuna
- Alfonsino
- Anchovy
- Arrow Squid
- Barracouta
- Bigeye Tuna
- Black Cardinalfish
- Blue Cod
- Blue Mackerel
- Blue Moki
- Bluenose
- Blue Shark
- Blue Warehou
- Butterfish/Greenbone
- Cockles
- Dark Ghost Shark/Pearl
- Eels
- Elephant Fish
- Flatfish/Flounder/Sole/Brill/Turbot
- Frostfish
- Garfish
- Gemfish
- Grey Mullet
- Groper
- Hake
- Hoki
- Jack Mackerel
- John Dory
- Kahawai
- Kina
- Kingfish/Yellowtail
- Leatherjacket/Creamfish
- Ling
- Lookdown Dory
- Mako Shark
- Moonfish
- Orange Roughy
- Oreos/Deepwater Dory
- Oysters - Bluff/Nelson
- Pacific Bluefin Tuna
- Packhorse Lobster/Crayfish
- Paddle Crabs
- Pale Ghost Shark/Pearl
- Paua
- Pilchard
- Porbeagle Shark
- Queen Scallops
- Red Cod
- Red Gurnard
- Red Snapper
- Ribaldo
- Rig Shark/Lemonfish
- Rock Lobster/Crayfish
- Rubyfish
- Scallops
- Scampi
- School shark/Tope/Flake
- Sea perch/Scarpee
- Silver Warehou
- Skates
- Skipjack Tuna
- Snapper
- Southern bluefin tuna
- Southern Blue Whiting
- Spiny Dogfish
- Sprats
- Stargazer/Monkfish
- Swordfish
- Tarakihi
- Trevally
- Trumpeter
- White Warehou
- Yellow-eyed Mullet
- Yellow Fin Tuna
- Best Fish Guide: Recipes
- Best Fish Guide: Symbols
- Fishing Methods
- The Best Fish Guide: Downloads
- Fish Species
- Reserves
- Success Stories
Protecting our native plants, animals and wild places, on land and in our oceans. Help us to help nature.
Snapper
You are here:
Snapper: Quick Facts
Scientific name: Pagrus auratus
Other names: tamure, kourea (Maori), sea bream, bream, schnapper, NZ golden snapper, brim, porgy (US), dorade (France), madai, goushyuumadai (Japan), cham dom (Korea).
Ranking: E (Red - Worst Choice)
Best Fish Guide: Snapper
Ranking: E (Red - Worst Choice)
Description: A slow growing, long-lived (up to 60 years) member of the sea bream family, snapper is one of largest and most valuable coastal fisheries in New Zealand. It is common around the North Island and upper South Island and is mainly caught by bottom longlining or trawling operations, generally at depths of 10-100 metres. Jointly with oreos/deepwater dory, mako shark and southern bluefin tuna, snapper have the second worst ecological ranking on the Best Fish Guide of any commercial fishery in New Zealand.
Ecological concerns: The depleted status of the stocks (primarily as a result of historical depletion), the management of two stocks as one, the uncertainty in stock assessments for some areas and the lack of a management plan. As snapper are also a common target for recreational fishing, a sector in which there is limited to no assessment of catch, the impacts of the combined recreational and commercial catches are also of concern.
The impacts of bottom trawling, the bycatch of seabirds in the longline fishery (including the globally threatened black petrel) and the possible bycatch of the critically endangered Maui’s dolphin in the trawl fishery are other concerns. Restrictions on trawling introduced in May 2008 have reduced the risk of catching Maui’s dolphins. However, offshore fishing outside the closed areas still poses a risk plus, pending the decision of a high court challenge, the risk may return to inshore coastal waters if regulations are dropped.
Economic value: Japan is the single largest export market (around 50%), while Australia and Taiwan take some 30% between them. The export value of snapper was about $32 million in 2008.
ASSESSMENT OUTPUT
Biology and risk of overfishing (score D)
Status and sustainability of fish catches (score E)
Impact of fishing method and protected, threatened and endangered species captures (score E and E)
Management and management unit (score B and C)
For a full ecological assessment, click here