Information briefs and risk analyses for species under consideration ...
Information briefs and risk analyses for species under consideration ...
Information briefs and risk analyses for species under consideration ...
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Risk analysis <strong>and</strong> evaluation<br />
STOCK: Octopus (various <strong>species</strong>)<br />
Severity/likelihood <strong>risk</strong> analysis:<br />
Generic objective 1: Risk to maintaining the potential of the stock to meet the<br />
reasonably <strong>for</strong>eseeable needs of future generations.<br />
Analysis: Octopus is taken as bycatch of crayfish potting, cod potting, <strong>and</strong> the bottom trawl <strong>and</strong> bottom longlining<br />
fisheries. As all octopus <strong>species</strong> are usually recorded <strong>under</strong> one generic reporting classification, OCT, the<br />
distribution of various <strong>species</strong> of octopus in the catch ef<strong>for</strong>t <strong>and</strong>/or l<strong>and</strong>ing returns is unknown. It is there<strong>for</strong>e<br />
extremely difficult to assess both the stock structures <strong>and</strong> biomass of single octopus <strong>species</strong>.<br />
Anecdotal in<strong>for</strong>mation from fishers <strong>and</strong> fishery managers <strong>and</strong> analysts suggests that Pinnoctopus cordi<strong>for</strong>mis is<br />
the main contribution to the total catch. This would seem to be validated by the amount of bycatch of octopus<br />
being taken in the rock lobster fisheries throughout New Zeal<strong>and</strong> (84% of all OCT estimated catch over the past<br />
6 fishing years) <strong>and</strong> research conducted that shows Pinnoctopus cordi<strong>for</strong>mis as the main predator of rock<br />
lobster.<br />
Additional problems occur in assessing stocks as further anecdotal evidence suggests that significant amounts of<br />
the <strong>species</strong> may be returned to sea without being reported. This would suggest that there might be some <strong>risk</strong> to<br />
maintaining the potential of the stock to meet the reasonably <strong>for</strong>eseeable needs of future generations. However,<br />
the fecundity <strong>and</strong> short lifespan of the <strong>species</strong> alleviates some of this <strong>risk</strong>, as does the lack of a significant<br />
market <strong>and</strong>/or dem<strong>and</strong> (both export <strong>and</strong> national) <strong>for</strong> Pinnoctopus cordi<strong>for</strong>mis.<br />
Of the other <strong>species</strong> of octopus very little is known. As there currently negligible targeting of octopus, <strong>risk</strong> to<br />
maintaining the potential of the stock to meet the reasonably <strong>for</strong>eseeable needs of future generations is low <strong>for</strong><br />
these <strong>species</strong>.<br />
Severity of impact (low, medium or high) : Low/Medium<br />
Likelihood of impact (low, medium or high): Low<br />
Risk score (1-9) : 2<br />
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