The stock structure of John dory around New Zealand was analyzed using multiple observational data sets, identifying five stocks (Dunn and Jones 2013). Current management areas (JDOs) boundaries for the species are not biologically appropriate; stock assessments follow the five stocks' structure: Hauraki Gulf and east Northland (north-central JDO 1), Bay of Plenty (north-east JDO 1), West North Island (south-west JDO 1 and JDO 2), Southeast North Island (south-east JDO 2) and Northern South Island (JDO 7 and south-west JDO 2) (MPI 2017).