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Seven More Species of Fish Listed 'at Risk'

Posted on: Wednesday, 14 November 2007, 15:00 CST

By EASTON, Paul

FISH-LOVERS should steer clear of a host of species, including snapper, hoki and orange roughy, Forest and Bird says.

The conservation group has issued its annual Best Fish Guide, a list of species it says are poorly managed and under threat. It has put the list in a wallet-sized guide it hopes shoppers will take with them to the supermarket or fish and chip shop.

However, the Government and fishing industry say the guide is unscientific.

Seven more fish species -- red snapper, moonfish, striped marlin, blue shark, mako shark, porbeagle shark and lookdown dory -- have been added to the unsustainable list. The worst-managed species is orange roughy, the guide says.

Forest and Bird conservation advocate Kirstie Knowles said the guide was based on data from the Fisheries Ministry, and took into account factors such as fishing methods.

She encouraged people to avoid species caught using set netting, middle-depth trawling and bottom trawling.

But Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton said the guide was inaccurate and simplistic.

"Most New Zealand fisheries are sustainable and in the case of the few that are below sustainable levels the Government is taking action to address falling stocks."

Wellington chef Martin Bosley helped launch the list yesterday, serving up a platter of treats made from some of the more sustainable species.

No species were rated as sustainable by the guide but kina, anchovy, pilchards, sprats and blue mackerel came close.

"With improvements to fisheries management we could potentially see some fisheries be ranked in the green list in future," Ms Knowles said.

Seafood Industry Council chief executive Owen Symmans said the guide was rubbish. "I have much more faith in the Government's system of fisheries management than Forest and Bird's."

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THE BEST AND THE WORST

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LEAST SUSTAINABLE

(starting with worst)

Orange roughy; southern bluefin tuna; oreos; porbeagle shark;

mako shark; Pacific bluefin tuna; blue shark; hoki; snapper; swordfish

MOST SUSTAINABLE

(starting with best)

Kina; anchovy; pilchards; sprats; blue mackerel; skipjack tuna; garfish; yellow- eyed mullet; cockles; kahawai

Source: Dominion Post

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