Hoki is a deepwater fish traditionally caught along the west coast of the South Island, over the Chatham Rise and in Cook Strait. It is noticed that in 2007 the total commercial catch of hoki was reduced from 100,000 tonnes to 90,000, and commercial fishers were asked to reduce their take from the depleted western stock by nearly 50 percent to 25,000 tonnes. As the fuel prices are pushing up the fishers are on the brink to collapse but some relief has come for those fishing hoki this season.
Richardson Fishing’s Richard Pollock, who has two boats fishing in Cook Strait, said he was pleased with both the quality and quantity of hoki in the top of the south. He added that both Cook Strait and the West Coast hoki fisheries would be in the best shape they’ve been for many years. He claimed that there’s huge school of fish out there. Pollock also said that the hoki fishery is definitely getting much stronger.
Co-director of Nelson-based Pursuit Fishing Ltd, Mark Roach, said apart from the stormy weather causing some disruptions, he was pleased with the way this year’s hoki catch had been going. He told that it’s going good, plenty of good-sized fish around, the only thing that has been a hold-up has been the weather. He explained that pursuit was running two boats out of Picton and was contracted to catch up to 955 tonnes of hoki for Talley’s.
Owner of Nelson’s Endurance Fishing Company, Craig Boote, said he had one boat fishing for hoki in Cook Strait. He clarified that the hoki fishery was a “very, very sustainable” one. Motueka-based Federation of Commercial Fishermen president Doug Saunders-Loder said those fishing for hoki were relatively relaxed with how this year’s season was looking.
