Albatrosses chasing a fishing boat in New Zealand's South Island. This endangered species can be accidentally caught in the surface longline fishery.
Photo: Adobe Stock.
New Zealand's Ministry for Primary Industries has announced a refresh in its accidental fisheries bycatch reporting so that its efforts against it become more effective. From now on, users interested in this information, including commercial fishers, iwi (tribes), environmental NGOs, researchers, and fisheries scientists, will have quarterly reports making it easier to find and more accessible.
"Keeping track of the accidental capture of non-target species is an important part of making sure fisheries are sustainable," said Simon Lawrence, Fisheries New Zealand Director of Fisheries Science. To that end, Fisheries New Zealand collects a variety of bycatch data on marine mammals, seabirds, reptiles, protected fish and corals, sponges and bryozoans and then publishes that information in these quarterly reports.
"The introduction of cameras across more vessels, and the information gathered as a result, has provided a good opportunity to consider the way accidental capture information is presented that is easier to find and more accessible," Lawrence added. "We've taken information currently provided at different times and places and presented it in a clearer and quarterly format so that people can see it in context."
Bycatch data are collected from commercial fishermen and verified by Fisheries New Zealand observers and cameras on board fishing vessels. Scientific models are then applied to help build a more complete picture of what is happening in the water.
"Fisheries New Zealand and the Department of Conservation respond in near-real time to captures of protected species," claimed Fisheries New Zealand's Director of Fisheries Science. "Depending on the situation this could range from supporting fishers to make small changes to reduce risk through to formal fishing restrictions and closures."
According to the information provided, from January to March 2024, 37,151 fishing events were reported - it is considered a fishing event each time fishing gear is set and retrieved - and 81,811 tons of fish landed. Of those events, 1.7% (647) involved interactions with protected species ranging from animals coming into contact with fishing gear and escaping unharmed, to captures.
Overall, said Fisheries New Zealand, fishermen are working hard to reduce these catches, and the latest information shows that fisheries remain in good shape. However, there are a number of mitigation measures in place to help to reduce accidental fisheries bycatch.
To manage the range of threats to protected species, including those posed by fishing, Fisheries New Zealand works together with the Department of Conservation and has plans in place to understand and manage threats to protected marine species, not forgetting Hector's and Māui's dolphins, sea lions and seabirds.
Those plans include evidence-based approaches to dealing with fishing incidents, which, as Simon Lawrence explained, can range from education at the lower end of the spectrum to fishing restrictions and closures when necessary.
One example is the new rules to protect seabirds that Fisheries New Zealand announced in mid-June. These measures, to come into force in October 2024, will significantly reduce the risk to seabirds, including critically threatened albatrosses being captured in the surface longline fishery.
"These will require all commercial fishers using surface longline fishing methods to either use special hook shielding devices or implement all 3 seabird mitigations at the same time. These mitigations include: using bird scaring devices called 'tori lines', as well as using weighted lines to sink hooks faster and setting gear at night," NZ Director of Fisheries Science explained.
The seafood sector provides an important source of revenue, jobs and opportunities to New Zealand with export revenue forecast to increase 5% to NZD 2.2 billion (EUR 1.2 billion / USD 1.3 billion) in the year to 30 June. The objective of all these measures is to support sustainable fisheries so that all fishermen, whether commercial, recreational, or customary, will continue to benefit from the sea for future generations.
