Release mortality FAQs
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August 27, 2026
Results from the most recent survey estimating snapper mortality due to recreational fishing were published by Fisheries New Zealand in July 2026. That research found that around 250 tonnes of snapper in northern waters die annually when discarded by recreational fishers. A large percentage of those discarded fish were in the Hauraki Gulf, around 23% ... Read more.
August 27, 2026
Release mortality is the fish that are caught, returned to water, then die. For snapper, two things drive it: the depth a fish is caught in (deeper water brings a higher risk of barotrauma, swim bladder damage that can stop a fish getting back down) and where it’s hooked (a fish hooked in the throat ... Read more.
August 27, 2026
Most released snapper live. Survival rates largely depend on fishing depth and where the fish is hooked. Gill hooked and gut hooked fish have the worst survival rates. In the most recent study, only about 3% of snapper were seen floating at the surface, and considered ‘dead’. It is likely that some snapper that swam ... Read more.
August 27, 2026
No. Improved research into recreational catch is welcome, and the most recent study is a good example of it. However, the figures don’t expose a hidden gap: release mortality is built into how catch limits are set. The current 450 tonne allowance for mortality in the northern snapper fishery adequately covers the estimated 250 tonnes ... Read more.
August 27, 2026
Most released snapper survive, however a few simple changes can support a greater survival rate: Fish shallow where you can. The study found survival is highest for fish caught in less than 15m deep. Fish brought up from deeper water are more prone to barotrauma – swim bladder damage that limits them from swimming back ... Read more.
