Background

Blue Water Marine Research Ltd (1997) was established by John Holdsworth and Peter Saul who together, have over 50 years experience in fisheries management and research. The business in based near the small fishing port of Tutukaka in northern New Zealand but projects have been undertaken around the country, from Fiordland to Wanganella Banks.

There have been many technological advances in the way marine species are studied and Blue Water Marine Research is a leader in the use of electronic fish tag technology in New Zealand. Fisheries management has also advanced.

The Quota Management System (QMS) has been effective in rationalising the commercial fleet but employs complex decision making and consultation processes. A good understanding of the legislative and research requirements is important to get the best results. We have considerable experience in fisheries research and management systems in New Zealand. This depth of knowledge has been useful in providing quality research and advice on fisheries and marine issues.

John Holdsworth (BSc) Director

John is closely involved with many of the research projects underway and is responsible for the recreational harvest surveys and gamefish tagging projects. He is a member of a number of the Ministry of Fisheries working groups which have been restructured to fit with the areas and species groupings proposed in Fisheries Plans. The main office of Blue Water Marine Research is on John and Sandy’s 50 acre property at the back of Matapouri Bay. John is vice commodore of the Tutukaka South Pacific Yacht Club.

Peter Saul Director

Pete Saul is responsible for the Billfish Logbook project and a large part of the Pacific Bluefin satellite tagging project. He has been involved in fisheries for most of his working life as a diver, science technician, charter boat skipper and policy analysist. It is also a large part of his leisure and voluntary time.

Pete and Brenda Saul also own Lady Jess Charters. For over 20 years Pete has taken clients gamefishing for marlin and tuna, line fishing for a range of inshore species, or diving at the world renowned marine reserve at the Poor Knights Islands. They live at Ngunguru and Pete has served as president of the Whangarei Deep Sea Anglers Club and is the records officer for the New Zealand Big Game Fishing Council.

Dr Tim Sippel (PhD)

Tim has completed his PhD on tracking of striped marlin in the southwest Pacific Ocean and environmental influences on movement and behaviour at the University of Auckland School of Biological Sciences. Much of the data used came from electronic tagging projects he helped run while working for BWMR.

Tim has taken up a position at the Universisty of Hawaii modeling the behaviours of pelegic marine species.  There is currently an application to the Pelagic Fisheries Research Foundation and our association and colaboration with Tim is set to continue.  

 Kaye Van der straten

Kaye has completed a postgraduate thesis on the reproductive biology of male black marlin off the coast of North Queensland, and has also been involved in satellite tagging projects of blue marlin in Hawaii and striped marlin in New Zealand.  She assisted in the development of the Billfish Logbook Project, and is currently working with Bluewater Marine Research on the Kingfish Monitoring Project around the north-eastern coast of the North Island. 

Kaye also has experience working for both NZ and Australian Government Departments on projects such as bycatch mitigation strategies for longline fisheries, inshore finfish management, and pest management programmes.  In addition to fisheries related research, Kaye also undertakes contract work as a Marine Mammal Observer on seismic exploration vessels operating in offshore regions around the Southern Hemisphere.  

Collaborators

Blue Water Marine Research has worked with a number of individuals, companies and institutions on research and advisory projects. To date these include:

• Professor Barbara Block, Stanford University, CA, USA
• Tagging of Pacific Pelagics (TOPP), CA, USA
• TAG-A-GIANT Foundation, USA
• Moana Consultants Ltd, NZ
• School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, NZ
• Professor Peter Davie, Massey University,Palmerston North, NZ
• Richard Keller Kopf, Charles Sturt University, NSW, AU
• National Institute of Water and Atmosphere, NZ
• Davidson Kemp Ltd, NZ
• Boyd Fisheries Consultants Ltd, NZ
• Pepperell Research & Consulting Pty Ltd, QL, AU
• New Zealand Sport Fishing Council
• New Zealand Marine Research Foundation
• New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries

Publications

1992 Saul, P. & Holdsworth, J. Co-operative Gamefish Tagging in New Zealand Waters, 1975-90. N.Z. Fisheries Technical Report No. 33.

1998 Holdsworth, J. & Saul, P. Billfish and gamefish characterisation and movement annual report 1995-96. NIWA Technical Report 16.

2001 Holdsworth, J., Saul, P. Trends in the striped marlin sport fishery from Northland, New Zealand. Proceedings of the Pacific Ocean Research Foundation Symposium Kailua – Kona, Hawaii,1998. Facing the Challenges of Resource Conservation, Sustainable Development, and the Sport Fishing Ethic.

2001 Holdsworth, J. & Saul, P. New Zealand Billfish and Gamefish Tagging, 2000-01. Fisheries Research Report held by the Ministry of Fisheries Wellington.

2002 The economic contribution of New Zealand recreational billfish fishery in 2000–2001. Report for the NZ Marine Research Foundation. Prepared by Kingett Mitchell, AC Nielson and Blue Water Marine Research

2003 Holdsworth, J., Saul, P., Browne, G. Factors affecting striped marlin catch rate in the New Zealand recreational fishery. Proceedings of the Third International Billfish Symposium Cairns, Australia, 2001. Marine and Freshwater Research. Volume 54, 473–83.

2003 Ortiz, M., Prince, E., Serafy, J., Holts, D., Davy, K., Pepperell, J., Lowery, M., Holdsworth, J. A global overview of the major constituent–based billfish tagging programs and their results since 1954. Proceedings of the Third International Billfish Symposium Cairns, Australia, 2001. Marine and Freshwater Research. Volume 54, 489–509.

2004 Holdsworth, J.; Saul, P. New Zealand billfish and gamefish tagging, 2002–03. New Zealand Fisheries Assessment Report 2004/50. 27p.

2005 Holdsworth, J.; Kopf. R.K. Characterisation of striped marlin fisheries in New Zealand. New Zealand Fisheries Assessment Report 2005/31.  63 p.

2005 Kopf, R.K.; Davie, P.S., Holdsworth, J.C. Size trends and population characteristics of striped marlin, Tetrapturus audax caught in the New Zealand recreational fishery. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, Vol. 39: 1145–1156.

2006 Holdsworth, J.; Saul, P. New Zealand billfish and gamefish tagging, 2004–05. New Zealand Fisheries Assessment Report 2006/18. 28p

2007 Holdsworth, J.; Saul, P. New Zealand billfish and gamefish tagging, 2005–06. New Zealand Fisheries Assessment Report 2007/2. 29p

2007 Holdsworth, J.; Saul, P.; van der Straten, K.M. Striped Marlin Fisheries in New Zealand. New Zealand Fisheries Assessment Report 2007/32. 37p

2007 Holdsworth, J.C.; Sippel T.J.; Saul P.J. An Investigation into Swordfish Stock Structure Using Satellite Tag and Release Methods. Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, Scientific Committee 3 BI SWG/WP- 3. 21p

2007 Sippel, T.J.; Davie, P.S.; Holdsworth, J,C.; Block, B.A. Striped marlin (Tetrapturus audax) movements and habitat utilization during a summer and autumn in the Southwest Pacific Ocean. Fisheries Oceanography. 16:5, 459–472.

2007 Holdsworth, J.C.; Saul, P.J.; van der Straten, K. M. Striped marlin fisheries in New Zealand. New Zealand Fisheries Assessment Report 2007/32. 37 p.

2008 Holdsworth, J; Saul, P.  New Zealand billfish and gamefish tagging, 2006­­­­­–07. New Zealand Fisheries Assessment Report  2008/28. 27 p.

2009  Holdsworth, J.C., Sippel, T.J., Block, B.A. Near real time satellite tracking of striped marlin (Kajikia audax) movements in the Pacific Ocean.  Marine Biology Volume 156, 505–514.