Trophia was contracted by the New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries (MFish) to carry out stock assessments of barracouta, including estimating biomass and sustainable yields. 

The specific objectives for this project include:

1. To determine the relationship between barracouta on the East Coast and West Coasts of the South Island and with the stock in BAR 5.

2. To carry out stock assessment of barracouta (BAR 5) including estimating biomass and sustainable yields.

3. To complete a characterisation of the barracouta fishery in BAR 1 and determine the feasibility of deriving a relative abundance index from catch and effort data.

This study concluded that a stock assessment for any stock of barracouta was not yet possible due to lack of sufficient data.

Outputs that will soon be available from this site include:

Langley, A.D., Bentley, N. (2002). An examination of the stock structure of barracouta (Thyrsites atun) around the South Island of New Zealand. New Zealand Fisheries Assessment Report 2002/30. 57 p

Langley, A.D.; Walker, N. (2002). Characterisation of the barracouta (Thyrsites atun) fishery in BAR 1. New Zealand Fisheries Assessment Report 2002/44. 37 p

Langley, A.D.; Walker, N. (2002). CPUE analysis of the southeast South Island BAR 1 fishery, 1989–90 to 1999–2000. New Zealand Fisheries Assessment Report 2002/11 . 28 p.

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