Very little. Tarakihi is one of New Zealand’s staple table fish. Around 95% of tarakihi caught is sold and eaten right here in Aotearoa, not shipped overseas. That’s why the state of the stock matters so much to ordinary Kiwis, this isn’t a distant export commodity, it’s a fish New Zealanders catch or buy to put on the dinner table. And the East Coast stock has already collapsed below the point at which a fishery should be considered for closure, while the West Coast is heading the same way if nothing changes. It’s New Zealanders who are losing out, with another fish gone from local stores, higher prices, and a much-loved fishery run into the ground. Rebuilding these stocks properly now is how we make sure Kiwis don’t keep missing out.

