Your Catch Matters: New Blue Cod Research Underway
You may notice some extra activity at the Waikawa, Picton and Havelock boat ramps on good fishing days, especially in the mornings.
Friendly staff from Earth Sciences New Zealand (formerly NIWA) will be there, encouraging fishers to take part in an important blue cod research project happening right here in the Marlborough Sounds.
This project, carried out by Earth Sciences New Zealand on behalf of Fisheries New Zealand, is focused on better understanding what happens to blue cod that are caught and returned to the water.
Why it matters
Blue cod are one of our most valued recreational species, and in the Sounds a large number of fish are released — often because they’re under the legal size.
Recent surveys have shown:
- Most female blue cod are below the minimum legal size
- About half of male blue cod are also under the size limit
- As many as 70% of blue cod caught by private boats in the Sounds are released
What isn’t well understood is how many of those released fish survive. That information is key to making sure size limits and other management settings are actually working as intended — and helping protect the future of the fishery we all enjoy.
How you can help (it’s quick and easy)
If you’re heading out for blue cod, you can make a real difference by recording a few simple details about your catch — whether you keep the fish or release it. You’ll be asked to note things like:
- Fish length
- Depth it was caught
- Where the hook was
- Whether it was bleeding
- What happened when it was released (swam away, floated, or taken by a predator
Two easy ways to take part
1. Use the free NIWA Citizen Science App
- Works offline while you’re out fishing
- Enter data on the go and upload it later
- No paperwork needed
2. Fill out a quick paper form at the ramp
- Available when staff are on-site
- Measuring mats and clipboards provided
- Staff are happy to help or show you how the app works
- Return forms via photo, email, or drop-box at the ramp
This project is all about better information — not more rules. By sharing what’s really happening on the water, local fishers play a direct role in shaping smart, practical management decisions for blue cod in the future.
Every trip recorded helps to build a clearer picture.
Want to know more?
photo credit: Rod Stewart
If you’d prefer to connect directly or get set up ahead of your next trip, you can contact:
Niki Davey – Earth Sciences New Zealand
niki.davey@earthsciences.nz
027 547 6749 (text or leave a message)
So next time you see the team at the ramp, feel free to stop for a chat and consider taking part. It’s a simple way to help support the future of blue cod fishing in the Sounds.
Project runs: May 2026 – April 2027
