Accidental by-catch
Commercial fishermen use special technology and fishing methods to lessen the chance for seabirds and marine mammals to be hurt by fishing. Research has led to new technology and fishing methods to help target and harvest only the fish we set out to catch. The fishing gear is operated carefully to minimise impact with the seabed and contact with marine mammals and seabirds. The New Zealand seafood industry works hard to reduce by-catch of marine mammals and seabirds - our skippers have won national and international acclaim for their seabird-smart work.
Accidental by-catch of seabirds »
Accidental by-catch of seals and sea lions »
Accidental by-catch of Hector's dolphin »
Commercial fishing is governed by regulations and voluntary codes of practice to reduce the incidence of accidental by-catch. Fishing boats operate in a way that ensures that birds and marine mammals are discouraged from interacting with and are protected from the activity of fishing.
Over the last ten years, fishermen worldwide have focused on reducing the accidental by-catch of marine mammals (dolphins, seals and sea lions) and seabirds such as albatrosses and petrels in commercial fishing operations. Fishing boats have the same appeal to seabirds and marine mammals as an ice cream van has to a room full of eight-year-olds. Large quantities of fish, trapped and ready for their predators, or the smell of fish offal - it may not be appealing to us, but to a sea-lion or petrel it is irresistible.
In New Zealand the seafood industry has been determined to reduce the accidental by-catch of sea-birds and marine mammals. The industry has led many initiatives such as the development and use of voluntary codes of practice and development of fishing gear modifications like Brady bird bafflers, tori scaring lines and SLEDs (Sea Lion Excluder Devices) which release sea lions and seals alive from trawl nets.
Since 1995 the domestic commercial fishing industry has been levied to fund the Conservation Services Levy programme which is designed to investigate and mitigate the adverse effects of fishing on protected species of marine wildlife.
Significant species that are occasionally caught in commercial fishing operations are:
- Albatross species including the white-capped albatross (Thalassarche steadi), the antipodean wandering albatross (Diomedea antipodensis), the Chatham Island albatross (Thalassarche eremite), the Campbell Island albatross (Thalassarche impavida) the Buller's albatross (Thalassarche bulleri) and Salvin's albatross (Diomedia cauta).
- Three Procellaria petrels (black petrel (Procellaria parkinsoni), Grey petrel (P. cinerea) and white-chinned petrel (Procellaria aequinoctialis steadi).
- New Zealand (Hooker's) sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri).
- New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri).
- Hector's dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori hectori).
A Case Study - the Hoki industry
In May 2001 the New Zealand hoki fishery became the world's first whitefish stock to achieve Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification.This eco-label is independent confirmation that the New Zealand hoki industry is well managed according to the principles and criteria of the MSC. Currently only 22 seafood suppliers world wide have obtained this certification standard for sustainable and managed fisheries.
A key principle of the certification is to assess the impact of the fishery on the marine ecosystem, and the certification report on the Hoki industry required the industry to carry out further research and risk assessment work to accurately assess the impact of the fishery on the marine environment. The certification report indicated that within the fishery there is an occasional incidental by-catch of seals and seabirds but that a formal compulsory programme to control this by-catch is in place. The certification required the industry to carry out further research and to continue to develop new technology and modify fishing practices to reduce incidental by-catch of both seabirds and fur seals.
Risk Assessment 1.5MB