Information briefs and risk analyses for species under consideration ...

Generic objective 2: Risk to avoiding, remedying or mitigating any adverse effects of
fishing on the aquatic environment.
Analysis:
There are no targeted rattail fisheries and the risk of adverse effects on the aquatic environment from the catch
of these species under an open access management regime is low. While some catches of rattails are taken by
bottom trawl this is only as a consequence of a target fishery for QMS species.
Nothing is known of the habitat interactions or of the marine ecosystem role of rattails, but as they are
widespread and locally abundant they have some function in the marine ecosystem.
Severity of impact (low, medium or high) : Low
Likelihood of impact (low, medium or high) : Low
Risk score (1-9) : 1
Generic objective 3: Risk to providing access that enables social, cultural and
economic wellbeing.
Analysis:
Rattails generally have low commercial value and close to half of the total rattail catch in the last fishing year
was discarded. About half of what is landed is mealed with the remainder landed green. While there may be
commercial possibilities for some of the larger rattails no targeting appears to be taking place at present.
There is no known recreational or customary take of rattails. There are no specific international obligations or
Treaty settlement obligations known for rattails.
Severity of impact (low, medium or high) : Low
Likelihood of impact (low, medium or high) : Low
Risk score (1-9) : 1
Objective(s) returning highest score: 1
Risk based on severity/likelihood (low, medium, high): Low
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