Protected species bycatch in New Zealand fisheries

Seabirds, marine mammals, turtles, as well as protected sharks and rays, are incidentally caught during commercial fishing operations.

Fishers work hard to reduce these captures and there are a range of voluntary and regulated mitigations in place. Fisheries New Zealand works with the Department of Conservation to manage the range of threats to protected species, including those posed by fishing.

We have plans in place to understand and manage threats to protected marine species, including Hector's and Māui dolphins, sea lions and seabirds. These plans include evidence-based approaches to dealing with fishing incidents ranging from education at the lower end of the spectrum to fishing restrictions and closures where necessary.

In order to monitor the effects of fishing on these species, government observers on fishing vessels record any protected species bycatch incidents that occur.

This website provides a summary of protected species captures in trawl and longline fisheries, from the 2002–03 to 2020–21 fishing year (fishing years run from October 1 to September 30). These data sit alongside a broader set of data describing fisher-reported protected marine species captures.

As observers cannot be present on all fishing vessels, total captures in a fishery are estimated using statistical methods to extrapolate from observed fishing to unobserved fishing. The total observable captures are an estimate of the captures that would have been reported, had observers been present on all fishing vessels. There may be additional mortalities (such as birds that are struck by fishing gear but not brought on board the vessel) that are not recorded by observers. These are referred to as ‘cryptic mortalities’ and are not included in the estimates of total captures, nor is there any evaluation of potential survival of seabirds recorded as captured but subsequently released alive.

Estimates of total captures have been provided for seabirds, fur seals and common dolphins (some fisheries only - others have not been estimated due to limited observations of captures). Fisheries New Zealand also have produced or are in the process of producing spatial risk assessments which provide alternative estimates of fishing related captures and mortality for seabirds, Hector’s and Maui dolphin, New Zealand sea lion and other marine mammal species.

Overall, the latest information shows fisheries remain in good shape. Fisheries New Zealand is committed to supporting sustainable fishing so that all fishers, commercial, recreational, and customary continue to benefit from the sea for generations to come.

Fish stock status

Available data

Currently available datasets include:

• Protected species captures, 2002–03 to 2020–21. Summary of observed and estimated total captures of seabirds, marine mammals and turtles in New Zealand trawl, longline, and set net fisheries.