Species Focus - Kahawai (Arripis trutta and A. xylabion) Kahawai
is a particularly important fishery to recreational and Maori
customary fishers; it is also caught by commercial fishers.
Kahawai is part of a suite of fish that make up the "catch
plans" of purse seine vessels in New Zealand waters. Most
kahawai caught by non-commercial fishers are taken using set
nets or lines. Most kahawai caught commercially is taken using
purse-seine nets, with smaller amounts being caught in
commercial trawl and set net fisheries. Commercial fishers began
targeting kahawai in the 1980s. Commercial catches peaked in
1987-88 at around 9600 tonnes. In 1991, commercial catch limits
were set for kahawai targeted using purse seine nets. Management
of kahawai fisheries is causing some controversy. Recreational
fishers say the numbers and size of kahawai they are catching
have declined markedly, as a result of commercial purse seine
fishing. Commercial fishers say that recent catches are at
sustainable levels. Status of the stocks