I dont know what the size limit for commercial gurnard is Big Dave. I know in 2007 the minister imposed a size of 25cm on recreational fishers.

Heres a few graphs of interest foiund on the MPI that demonstrate there efficiency in estimating GUR 2 (The east coast NI stocks)

http://fs.fish.govt.nz/Page.aspx?pk=8&tk=41&stock=GUR2

Note the decline in the line graph called Reported catch by Month: Seasonality
Note how the catch (TAC) appears to have dropped over since 2007. Look at the Green Line for 2012. What does that tell you about the gurnard stocks in terms of commercial catch do you think?

Look a the bar graph opposite:

Commercial Catch By Allowance:

What happened in 2010 regards TAC (was it exceeded, Gee I think so)
Look at the bar for 2011. Why is that so low? Remember there allowed to take up to 725462 tonnes? Had a bit of trouble catching them maybe? Not enough stock perhaps?

Now read this link to the MPI fine assessment of GUR2

"A stock assessment of GUR2 was attempted in 1997–98, but rejected by the Inshore Working Group. CPUE analyses suggest that GUR2 abundance remained fairly stable between 1989/90 and 2004/05. Reported landings were also reasonably stable during this period, fluctuating between 450t and 708t. These results suggest that catches in this time period and the TACC are probably sustainable, at least in the short-term."

What does this tell you about the TAC assessment

DUH we fink its ok but we dont really know DUHHH

Anybody want to take Hanglers about those fine upstanding, hard working and well paid Ministers

Grrrrrrrr