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Highlights • Recreational fishing is among the top five outdoor activities in New Zealand. • Annually, fishers spend an estimated $946 million on marine fishing activities. • Fisher spending multiplies within the New Zealand economy, growing to $1.7 billion. • Recreational fishing is important to New Zealand's economic and social well-being. Abstract Economic information is critical for explaining why recreational fishing and marine stewardship is important to all citizens of a nation. Successfully raising public awareness of the importance of healthy and abundant marine fisheries is dependent on having reliable economic insights. These types of data can be used to inform discussions about how to institute better conservation policies, secure new partners and resources for conservation initiatives, and ultimately boost the long-term health and productivity of marine fisheries. Until now, the economic contribution of recreational marine fishing in New Zealand has not been measured, placing recreational fishing interests at a disadvantage compared to the commercial sector that has such information in various forms. This project filled that vacuum. Beginning with the $946 million spent annually by more than 600,000 resident and visiting New Zealand fishers, these dollars circulate through the national economy, supporting 8000 jobs, stimulating $1.7 billion in total economic activity, contributing $638 million in Gross Domestic Product and $342 million in salaries, wages and small business profits while adding nearly $187 million in tax revenues. This study was built using data collection and analytical approaches available for use by other nations to increase public awareness of the critical economic importance of their marine fisheries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six striped marlin ( Tetrapturus audax) were caught on hook and line from recreational fishing boats near northern New Zealand (34°S, 174°E) and tagged and released with pop-off satellite archival tags. For periods ranging from 22 to 60 days over the geographical range 168°E–170°W and 13–34°S, five tags collected a total of 202 days (range of 21–60 days) of data. These data permit the investigation of striped marlin geographical and vertical movements and water temperatures occupied from February to June 2003. One hundred and one days of geoposition data showed a preliminary view of their movements in and around New Zealand waters. Transmitted temperature and depth data indicated striped marlin spent 80% (±2%) of their time in the mixed layer including 72% (±2%) of their time in the top 5 m. Temperature data indicated 75% (±10%) of the striped marlin’s time was spent in water temperatures between 20.1 and 24.0°C. Tagged striped marlin moved faster during periods of directed movement away from New Zealand versus periods of passive movements when the fish were proximal to New Zealand or not moving in any specific direction. These data support some existing hypotheses about striped marlin physiological ecology and allow preliminary suggestions about how striped marlin bycatch might be reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]