Blue cod levels in Kapiti Marine Reserve

Number of blue cod longer than 33 cm inside and outside Kapiti Marine Reserve

Download the data used in the graph (XLXS, 9K)

See research and monitoring for information about how this data was collected. 

The graph above shows the number of blue cod (pākirikiri) inside and outside the marine reserve that are a legal size (big enough for recreational fishers to keep), which is 33 cm in the Wellington area. The dotted lines show how the numbers of blue cod may have changed in the large time intervals between surveys.

Status: undetermined

There are more blue cod longer than 33 cm inside the marine reserve than outside. Natural levels of blue cod in the marine reserve are unknown so their status cannot be assessed at this time.

Trend: undetermined

The number of blue cod longer than 33 cm increased after the formation of the marine reserve and was at a similar level in 2013 but remained low outside the marine reserve. There is not enough data to report changes over the last 5 years, therefore the trend is undetermined. 

Monitoring

There is no regular monitoring of blue cod in the marine reserve. Occasional studies are carried out or supported by DOC, staff and students at Waikato and Victoria Universities and other researchers.

Reports

• The Kapiti Marine Reserve (New Zealand): spatial and temporal comparisons of multi-species responses after 8 years of protection. Pande and Gardner 2012.
• Monitoring of blue cod (Parapercis colias) at Kapiti Marine Reserve, New Zealand; a comparison of survey methodologies. Struthers MSc thesis 2004. 
• From our Marine survey reports download folder:
  
  • A survey of kaimoana at Kapiti Island 1999 and 2000. Stewart and MacDiarmid 2003
  • Monitoring of reef fish populations at Kapiti Island during aerial poisoning for rats, 1996. Cole and Singleton 1996. 
  • A survey of the marine habitats and communities of Kapiti Island. Battershill et al. 1993.

See also research and monitoring.