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

Immediacy and uncertainty risk analysis (for medium risk stocks or species
only):
Immediacy of impact on objective returning highest score:
Analysis:
Although the low productivity of seal shark means there is a risk to the sustainability of the stock under an open
access management regime, catch rates do not appear to be increasing and there is unlikely to be a dramatic
increase in market potential for this species.
Immediacy value (low, medium or high) : low
Uncertainty of information used in analysis of objective returning highest score:
Analysis:
There is some uncertainty relating to reported catches due to the use of generic codes, possible confusion in
differentiating this species from Lucifer dogfish and confusion with the basking shark reporting code.
There are no estimates of current or reference biomass, or sustainable yield although there is some information
from a review of the distribution and abundance of deepwater sharks in New Zealand. Like other deepwater
shark and dogfish species seal shark is understood to exhibit low productivity and fecundity.
Uncertainty value (low, medium or high) : medium
Collation of additional management information (for stocks or species
remaining in group 2 only):
Ease of implementation
Analysis:
Seal shark was twice considered recently for QMS introduction so existing summaries of information are
reasonable.
Conclusion: Relative ease
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