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https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/8820/snapper

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The snapper ( Pagrus auratus) is a much-loved New Zealand fish, which belongs to the sea bream family Sparidae. Recreational anglers know the snapper for its fighting qualities, and restaurant goers for its white, firm and flaky fillets. Māori know it as tāmure and traditionally caught large numbers, especially in more northern waters where it is more common. All snapper begin life as females, and then at three or four years of age about half of them change sex. They can live a long time - the oldest recorded specimen was 63 years old.

Using this item

Department of Conservation
Reference: 10036521
Photograph by Andrew Penniket

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

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The snapper (Pagrus auratus) is a much-loved New Zealand fish, which belongs to the sea bream family Sparidae. Recreational anglers know the snapper for its fighting qualities, and restaurant goers for its white, firm and flaky fillets. Māori know it as tāmure and traditionally caught ...

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Science Learning Hub: snapper in the ecosystem 

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Science Learning Hub: snapper in the ecosystem 

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https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/1268-life-on-a-reef

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The Leigh Marine Laboratory is located 100km north of Auckland on the edge of the Cape Rodney-Ōkakari Point Marine Reserve (commonly known as the Goat Island Marine Reserve). The reserve was created in 1975 and was the first marine reserve in New Zealand. Since its creation, the reserve has been monitored and the marine wildlife studied.

The reserve contains a number of different marine habitats, from rocky shores to deep reefs. Each habitat supports a range of sea creatures uniquely adapted to the specific conditions. The scientists featured in this context are particularly focused on the reef environment that is home to such species as kina, shrimps, a variety of fish, kelp and many more. Each has its home on the reef, in a particular place, and all contribute to a dynamic ecosystem.

Reef zones

Many different things affect reef habitats - wave action, light level, currents, rock structure, water temperature and salinity. Of these, wave action and light level are the most important, and it is common to use these two factors to divide the reef into several zones.

At the top of the water surface, there are strong currents and lots of light - this is the intertidal (or littoral) zone. This is the region between the high tide mark and the low tide mark. Plants and animals in this zone will only be covered with water when the tide is in. This makes it an ideal habitat for crabs, barnacles and sea anemones.

Below the low tide mark is the infralittoral zone, which is home to seaweeds, kelp forests and reef fish. Some of the noisiest species of the reef - shrimp and kina - live in this middle zone. The edge of this zone is marked by light. When it becomes too dark for kelp to survive, the circalittoral zone starts. This is home to sponges, sea squirts and corals.

Exploring the infralittoral zone

Under the low tide mark, but where light can still penetrate through the water, the reef habitat is alive with species.

Just below the water surface is a type of seaweed called bladder weed (includes flapjack and wide weed). Around Goat Island, this seaweed grows to a depth of around 6m under the low tide mark. Bladder weed attracts fish such as the parore ( Girella tricuspidata), which is able to change colour to suit the environment from a black/blue and white pinstripe to white, black, olive and a blotchy mix of all these.

Parore graze on small algae that grow on the bigger plant-like seaweeds, providing a cleaning service that allows the seaweed to flourish. This area of the reef is also inhabited by fish such as the silver drummer ( Kyphosus sydneyanus), marblefish ( Aplodactylus arctidens) and kelpfish ( Chironemus marmoratus

Below the forests of bladder weed are the kina, often in a zone with no large seaweed - referred to as the barren zone. Kina are voracious eaters of kelp, particularly young kelp, and are known to decimate kelp forests if left unchecked. The natural predator of kina is snapper. In many areas, overfishing has left too few snapper to control kina populations, and the kelp forests are disappearing. Around Goat Island, the marine reserve has helped the populations of snapper rebound. This is keeping the kina numbers in balance and kelp can rejuvenate.

The barren zone is also home to creatures such as starfish (or sea stars) and sponges as well as fish such as leatherjackets ( Parika scaber), spotties ( Notolabrus celidotus) and moki ( Cheilodactylus spectabilis

Kelp extends beyond the barren zone, down to depths as far as light can travel. Around Goat Island, this may be 18m or more. Species such as snails, small crustaceans (shrimps and crabs), butterfish ( Odax pullus) and wrasse ( Notolabrus fucicola) can be found down to this level.

The circalittoral zone

Below the kelp is the deep reef. It is here that the brightly coloured corals grow. Rocky ledges and holes provide an ideal habitat for species such as lobsters, shrimps and octopuses.

From here, the light disappears altogether and the reef begins to merge with the sea floor and the habitats change again. The reef with its rocky edges and swirling currents becomes sand and darkness.

Useful links

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The Leigh Marine Laboratory is located 100km north of Auckland on the edge of the Cape Rodney-Ōkakari Point Marine Reserve (commonly known as the Goat Island Marine Reserve). The reserve was created in 1975 and was the first marine reserve in New Zealand. Since its creation, the reserve has been monitored and the marine wildlife studied.

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Best fish choice and information

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Snapper: Quick Facts

Scientific name: Pagrus auratus

Other names: tamure, kourea (Maori), sea bream, bream, schnapper, NZ golden snapper, brim, porgy (US), dorade (France), madai, goushyuumadai (Japan), cham dom (Korea).

Ranking: E (Red - Worst Choice)

Best Fish Guide: Snapper

Ranking: E (Red - Worst Choice)

Alternative Choice: Trevally or Kingfish

Descri ption: A slow growing, long-lived (up to 60 years) member of the sea bream family, snapper is one of largest and most valuable coastal fisheries in New Zealand. It is common around the North Island and upper South Island and is mainly caught by bottom longlining or trawling operations, generally at depths of 10-100 metres. Jointly with oreos/deepwater dory, and southern bluefin tuna, snapper have the second worst ecological ranking on the Best Fish Guide of any commercial fishery in New Zealand.

Ecological concerns: The depleted status of the stocks (primarily as a result of historical depletion), the management of two stocks as one, the uncertainty in stock assessments for some areas and the lack of a management plan. As snapper are also a common target for recreational fishing, a sector in which there is limited to no assessment of catch, the impacts of the combined recreational and commercial catches are also of concern.

The impacts of bottom trawling, the bycatch of seabirds in the longline fishery (including the globally threatened black petrel) and the possible bycatch of the critically endangered Maui's dolphin in the trawl fishery are other concerns. Restrictions on trawling introduced in May 2008 have reduced the risk of catching Maui's dolphins. However, offshore fishing outside the closed areas still poses a risk plus, pending the decision of a high court challenge, the risk may return to inshore coastal waters if regulations are dropped.

Economic value: Japan is the single largest export market (around 50%), while Australia and Taiwan take some 30% between them. The export value of snapper was about $32 million in 2008.
ASSESSMENT OUTPUT
Biology and risk of overfishing (score D)
Status and sustainability of fish catches (score E)
Impact of fishing method and protected, threatened and endangered species captures (score E and E)
Management and management unit (score C and C)

For a full ecological assessment, click

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"royal forest and bird protection society of new zealand"

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Snapper: Quick Facts Scientific name: Pagrus auratus Other names: tamure, kourea (Maori), sea bream, bream, schnapper, NZ golden snapper, brim, porgy (US), dorade (France), madai, goushyuumadai (Japan), cham dom (Korea).

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An article describing how scientists research snapper, their life cycles and adaptations.

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EMR: What have we learned about snapper from marine reserves? 

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EMR: What have we learned about snapper from marine reserves? 

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http://emr.org.nz/images/emr/pdf/why-mr/Poster-snapper-what-we-have-learned-from-MR.pdf

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https://www.niwa.co.nz/fisheries/ecosystem-influences-on-snapper/life-cycle

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To find out more about each life cycle stage, click on the links beneath the diagram.