STOCK DISCRIMINATION OF HOKI (MACRURONUS-NOVAEZELANDIAE, MERLUCCIIDAE) IN NEW-ZEALAND WATERS USING MORPHOMETRICS

We compared morphometric features of adult-size (75-95 cm total length ) hoki, Macruronus novaezelandiae, from the two main spawning grounds (West Coast South Island, Cook Strait) and from the two main areas of dispersal (Auckland Island-Campbell Plateau, Chatham Rise) to determin e if more than one stock is evident. Significant differences (P > 0.00 1) in head shape were found between the two spawning grounds and betwe en the dispersed areas. When sample sets from the four areas were comb ined, West Coast and Cook Strait spawning samples were the least simil ar. Auckland Island-Campbell Plateau stock morphometrics were closest to West Coast, while those of Chatham Rise were closest to Cook Strait 's. The data provide strong evidence that Cook Strait and West Coast s pawners are from different stocks. There is also some support for the hypothesis that Auckland Island-Campbell Plateau hoki are from the sam e stock as the West Coast spawners, and that Chatham Rise hoki are fro m the same stock as the Cook Strait spawners.