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ISRA FACTSHEETS

NEW ZEALAND & PACIFIC ISLANDS REGION

ISRA FACTSHEETS

NEW ZEALAND & PACIFIC ISLANDS REGION

Tasman & Golden Bays ISRA

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Tasman & Golden Bays ISRA

Tasman & Golden Bays

Summary

Tasman & Golden Bays is located in the north of New Zealand’s South Island. The area is shallow and is characterised by a flat shelf with sandy and muddy substrates. Its circulation is dominated by wind and tidal flows with anticyclonic flows in the south and cyclonic flow in the north. The area includes several islands and receives freshwater input from multiple rivers. The area overlaps with the Cook Strait Key Biodiversity Area and two marine protected areas. Within this area there are: threatened species (e.g., Tope Galeorhinus galeus); range-restricted species (e.g., New Zealand Carpet Shark Cephaloscyllium isabellum); and reproductive areas (e.g., Rough Skate Zearaja nasuta).

Tasman & Golden Bays

Tasman & Golden Bays

DESCRIPTION OF HABITAT

Tasman & Golden Bays is a shallow area located in the north end of New Zealand’s South Island and sits in the Cook Strait. Tasman Bay extends ~120 km along the coast from d’Urville Island to Separation Point and includes multiple islands (e.g., Bell, Moturoa/Rabbit Island). Golden Bay extends from Separation Point to Farewell Spit, a sandspit ~ 26 km long. The area is characterised by a flat shelf with sandy and muddy substrates. Circulation in the Cook Strait is influenced by the d’Urville Current that flows along the northwest coast of the South Island and enters the strait where it mixes with east waters from the Canterbury Current (Chiswell et al. 2015, 2021). Within the bays, the circulation is dominated by wind and tidal flows with anticyclonic flows in the south and cyclonic flow in the north (Chiswell et al 2021). Tasman Bay has the highest tidal range in all New Zealand (up to 5 m). Tasman & Golden Bays receives input from multiple rivers, including Motukea, Waimea, Rikawa, and Maitai rivers.

The area overlaps with the Cook Strait Key Biodiversity Area (KBA 2024). In addition, it overlaps with the Tonga Island Marine Reserve and the Horoirangi Marine Reserve (UNEP-WCMC & IUCN 2024).

This Important Shark and Ray Area is benthic and pelagic and is delineated from inshore and surface waters (0 m) to 66 m based on the bathymetry of the area.

CRITERION A

VULNERABILITY

One Qualifying Species considered threatened with extinction according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species regularly occurs in the area. This is the Critically Endangered Tope (Walker et al. 2020).

CRITERION B

RANGE RESTRICTED

This area holds the regular presence of the New Zealand Carpet Shark and Rig as resident range-restricted species. These species were regularly encountered in independent research surveys using demersal trawls (10–70 m depths) conducted in austral summer and autumn months (March–April) in 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023 (Stevenson & Hanchet 2010; Stevenson 2012; MacGibbon & Stevenson 2013; Stevenson & MacGibbon 2015, 2018; MacGibbon 2019; MacGibbon et al. 2022, 2024). The two species are endemic to the New Zealand Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem and only occur in New Zealand waters.

For New Zealand Carpet Shark, 611 individuals were recorded in 2009, 2015, and 2017. The largest number of New Zealand Carpet Shark caught during research surveys around all of New Zealand conducted between 2009–2024 were recorded in Tasman & Golden Bays (Stevenson & Hanchet 2010; Stevenson 2012; MacGibbon & Stevenson 2013; Stevenson & MacGibbon 2015, 2018; MacGibbon 2019, MacGibbon et al. 2022, 2024; B Finucci unpubl. data 2024). New Zealand Carpet Shark were caught at depths of 21–65 m. In 2017, New Zealand Carpet Shark was caught in 41 of the 64 stations (64.1%) sampled in the area (Stevenson & MacGibbon 2018).

For Rig, 916 individuals were recorded in all surveys between 2009–2023 except for 2021. The second largest number of Rig caught during research surveys around all of New Zealand in that period were recorded in Tasman & Golden Bays (Stevenson & Hanchet 2010; Stevenson 2012; MacGibbon & Stevenson 2013; Stevenson & MacGibbon 2015, 2018; MacGibbon 2019; MacGibbon et al. 2022, 2024; B Finucci unpubl. data 2024). Rig were caught at depths of 13–65 m. In 2023, Rig was caught in 42 of the 64 stations (65.6%) sampled in the area (MacGibbon et al. 2022).

CRITERION C

SUB-CRITERION C1 – REPRODUCTIVE AREAS

Tasman & Golden Bays is an important reproductive area for two shark and one ray species.

Independent research surveys using demersal trawls (10–70 m depths) were conducted in the area during summer and autumn months (March–April) in 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023 (Stevenson & Hanchet 2010; Stevenson 2012; MacGibbon & Stevenson 2013; Stevenson & MacGibbon 2015, 2018; MacGibbon 2019; MacGibbon et al. 2022, 2024). Young-of-the-year (YOY) individuals, and late-stage pregnant females (with near-term embryos) of Tope, Rig, and Rough Skate were regularly recorded in the area (B Finucci unpubl. data 2024).

For Tope, biological data were collected for 1,274 individuals caught in these surveys. Of these individuals, 575 (45.1%) measured 32.3–49.8 cm total length (TL) and were caught at depths of 14–66 m (B Finucci unpubl. data 2024). Animals were classified as YOY based on the reported size for this life stage in New Zealand (<50 cm TL; Francis & Mulligan 1998). Research surveys conducted throughout New Zealand revealed that the second largest number of YOY Tope were caught in Tasman & Golden Bays where YOY were present in all surveys conducted in the area (Stevenson & Hanchet 2010; Stevenson 2012; MacGibbon & Stevenson 2013; Stevenson & MacGibbon 2015, 2018; MacGibbon 2019; MacGibbon et al. 2022, 2024; B Finucci unpubl. data 2024).

For Rig, biological data were collected for 916 individuals caught in these surveys. Of these, 152 (16.5%) measured 33.6–45.0 cm TL and were caught at depths of 14–62 m (B Finucci unpubl. data 2024). These individuals were classified as YOY based on the reported size for this life stage in New Zealand (<45 cm TL; Francis & Francis 1992). Research surveys conducted throughout New Zealand revealed that the second largest number of YOY Rig were caught in Tasman & Golden Bays where YOY were present in all surveys conducted in the area (Stevenson & Hanchet 2010; Stevenson 2012; MacGibbon & Stevenson 2013; Stevenson & MacGibbon 2015, 2018; MacGibbon 2019; MacGibbon et al. 2022, 2024; B Finucci unpubl. data 2024). Of the 58 late-stage pregnant females collected during surveys throughout New Zealand, 62 were caught in Tasman & Golden Bays, as well as six early-stage pregnant females (B Finucci unpubl. data 2024). Rig has been reported to use very shallow estuaries and harbours (<10 m) along New Zealand as nursery areas (Francis et al. 2012) and Tasman & Golden Bays has discharges from multiple rivers that make it a suitable habitat for these early life stages.

For Rough Skate, biological data were collected for 223 individuals caught in these surveys. Of these individuals, 105 (47.1%) measured 17–30 cm TL and were caught at depths of 14–62 m (B Finucci unpubl. data 2024). These individuals were classified as YOY based on the reported size for this life stage in New Zealand (<30 cm TL; Francis et al. 2001). Research surveys conducted throughout New Zealand revealed that the third largest number of YOY Rough Skates were caught in Tasman & Golden Bays where YOY were present in surveys conducted in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017 (Stevenson & Hanchet 2010; Stevenson 2012; MacGibbon & Stevenson 2013; Stevenson & MacGibbon 2015; 2018; MacGibbon 2019, MacGibbon et al. 2022, 2024; B Finucci unpubl. data 2024). From the 58 late-stage pregnant females collected during surveys throughout New Zealand, three were caught in Tasman & Golden Bays (B Finucci unpubl data 2024).

Tasman & Golden Bays

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