Accidental captures of seabirds and protected marine species by commercial fishers from 1 April to 30 June 2025

About our fishing industry and fish stocks

The seafood sector provides an important source of revenue, jobs, and opportunities to New Zealand with annual export revenue in excess of $2 billion.

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.

To that end, Fisheries New Zealand collects a range of data to support decision-making for sustainable fisheries and minimise the effect of fishing on other wildlife.

Fish stock status

Fishing events between April and June 2025

Over the quarter from 1 April to 30 June, there were:

32,613 reported fishing events
66,315 tonnes of fish landed.

The decrease in catch this quarter compared to the previous quarter is attributable to a general fall in activity over the period, with catches of high volume species such as hoki, Jack mackerel and barracouta decreasing slightly.

A fishing event is described as each time fishing gear is set and retrieved.

Fish landed is described as all fish reported as caught and required to be reported on a monthly harvest return.

Our catch data spreadsheet contains monthly harvest return data for all Quota Management System (QMS) fishstocks.

Catch data – Q3 2024-25 October fishing year [XLSX, 549 KB]

The number of interactions with protected species this quarter

Of the 32,613 fishing events this quarter, 2.5% involved interactions with protected species. These interactions include animals making any contact with fishing gear, including those released unharmed. They include reporting from vessels with cameras on board. The percentage is broadly in line with scientific estimates that we use to assess fisheries risk to protected species populations.

Fishers work hard to reduce these captures and there are a range of voluntary and regulated measures in place. Fisheries New Zealand works with the Department of Conservation (DOC) 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.

Fisheries New Zealand releases quarterly information reported by commercial fishers about accidental catches of marine mammals, seabirds, reptiles, protected fish, corals, and bryozoans.

Non-fish and protected species caught by commercial fishers [XLSX, 330 KB]

This data can be subject to reporting errors

The data in these quarterly reports has been provided by fishers through the electronic reporting system. Where protected species reporting errors are identified through review of footage from on-board cameras, we work with fishers to update the data.

Details of main accidental captures this quarter

Seabirds

In total this quarter, 765 seabirds were captured with most of these associated with trawl and longline fishing methods.

Fifty-seven (57) albatross were reported captured across the surface longline fleet. This is a small reduction on the same quarter last year, when 65 albatross were reported.

Three hoiho (yellow-eyed penguins) were reported caught in the Otago region. DOC’s protected species liaison officer was notified, and the penguins were retained for necropsy. Fishing vessels then moved away from the area. A new risk assessment of threats to yellow-eyed penguin/hoiho is being finalised which will inform any new management measures to reduce hoiho bycatch.

New rules help reduce captures

New rules that came into effect on 1 October 2024 have reduced the risk of seabirds being caught in the surface longline fishery. The rules require all commercial fishers using surface longline fishing methods to either:

use special hook shielding devices, or
implement '3 out of 3' best practice seabird mitigations at the same time.

The '3 out of 3' mitigations include using bird scaring devices called 'tori lines', using weighted lines to sink hooks faster, and setting gear at night. These measures are targeted to reduce the number of albatross and other seabirds captured.

The work we do to reduce accidental deaths of seabirds

In May 2020, the government approved an updated National Plan of Action for Seabirds (NPOA Seabirds) which sets out the vision, goals, and objectives to reduce accidental deaths of seabirds, as well as how progress against these goals is monitored. Progress is reported in NPOA seabird annual reports.

Reducing deaths of seabirds

Fisheries New Zealand coordinates bi-annual meetings of the Seabird Advisory Group (SAG) which includes representatives from industry, recreational interests, and the environmental sector. Treaty partners are also invited to participate. The role of the SAG is to track progress against the goals and objectives of the NPOA Seabirds.

Under the NPOA Seabirds, Fisheries New Zealand – in conjunction with the SAG – developed Mitigation Standards for each fishing method. Mitigation standards show how fishers can reduce the risk of catching seabirds. Annual review of the Mitigation Standards occurs as part of the drafting of the Seabird Annual Report and follows a process agreed to by the Seabird Advisory Group.

Whales and dolphins

There were no reported Hector's or Māui dolphin captures this quarter.
A humpback whale was released alive after becoming entangled in the buoy rope of a rock lobster pot. A vessel reported the incident after trawling up the pot which had the buoy rope still attached to the whale. The vessel's crew cut the whale free from the pot and reported the entanglement to Fisheries New Zealand, as well as notifying DOC. The vessel had on-board cameras operating and the footage was reviewed by Fisheries New Zealand.

The work we do to reduce threats to whales and dolphins

Whale entanglements in rock lobster pots are rare. DOC works with commercial and recreational fishers to raise awareness about the issue and promote whale-safe practices at sea.

Hector’s and Māui dolphins face a variety of threats, including from fishing, which are managed by Fisheries New Zealand and DOC. Together, we are responsible for the Threat Management Plan (TMP) for Hector’s and Māui dolphins.

Protecting Hector's and Māui dolphins

To manage threats from fishing, a Bycatch Reduction Plan is in place for South Island Hector’s dolphin. The plan sets out a suite of regulatory and voluntary measures designed to help fishers reduce the accidental capture of Hector’s dolphin towards zero.

Bycatch reduction plan [PDF, 7.2 MB]

Turtles

There were 17 reported turtle captures across commercial fisheries this quarter, all were reported as released alive. Of these, 13 were caught in the surface longline fishery. All surface longliners have onboard cameras installed, and all reported turtle interactions are reviewed. This footage review provides insights into the nature of the interaction and possible mitigations.

Reducing sea turtle bycatch

Commercial fishers using the surface longline fishing method have been required to use circle hooks when fishing in New Zealand fisheries waters since August 2023.

Fisheries New Zealand is working with DOC on a joint work programme to monitor and address sea turtle bycatch. This includes supporting the continued implementation of best practice handling and release methods, gathering data on interactions through turtle capture questionnaire forms for fishers, and provision of turtle de-hooking kits through DOC’s Liaison Officer Programme.

New Zealand sea lions and fur seals

One sea lion was reported caught in the southern squid trawl fishery this quarter. The vessel involved had an observer onboard and was deploying a Sea Lion Exclusion Device (SLED) correctly.

An average of 3 sea lions per year have been estimated to have been caught in this fishery over the last decade, which is a substantial reduction on historical levels due to measures put in place to mitigate sea lion captures, and reduced fishing in the area.

There were 99 reported captures of New Zealand fur seals this quarter, a reduction compared to the 137 reported on the same quarter last year. New Zealand fur seals are classified as 'Not Threatened' by DOC, and there is evidence of northward expansion of the distribution of breeding colonies.

How we're helping protect NZ sea lions

The conservation status of NZ sea lions recently moved from Nationally Vulnerable to Nationally Endangered. This is due to a smaller number of breeding adults on sub-Antarctic Islands and overall population decline. It is estimated there are about 10,000 New Zealand sea lions, with the main population at the sub-Antarctic Auckland and Campbell Islands.

Fisheries New Zealand works closely with DOC and Ngāi Tahu on the management of sea lions. This work is captured in the New Zealand Sea Lion Threat Management Plan. Sea lions face a range of threats, including from climate change and human activity. This fishery is well monitored with a minimum setting of 70% observer coverage on vessels.

Threat Management Plan for New Zealand sea lion – DOC

On-board cameras are now live on 219 commercial fishing vessels (as at 30 June)

From 3 March 2025, all bottom longline and inshore trawl vessels have been required to operate cameras. From 28 May 2025, all remaining set net vessels over 8 metres and all Danish Seine and purse seine vessels have been required to operate cameras.

Experience overseas and in New Zealand is that monitoring of fishing by observers or cameras generally leads to more accurate reporting. Accurate data enables a more transparent and responsive fisheries management system and supports better understanding of the health of our marine ecosystems.

Footage reviewed is based on random selection within a risk-based approach, with higher review rates in fisheries with higher risk of at-risk protected species interaction.

Future research will use data from cameras to update risk and capture estimates to ensure these are based on the best available information.

On-board cameras for commercial fishing vessels

Review of footage this quarter

Of the footage collected from vessels this quarter, 21% was reviewed. This remains high by international standards, reflecting the overlap with the areas identified in the Threat Management Plan for Hector’s and Māui dolphins and other protected species.

Most protected species captures are being consistently reported by fishers, with 96% of reviewed protected species events also reported by fishers this quarter.

There has been increased reporting of protected species in the fisheries where cameras are operating, which aligns with international experience and research undertaken in New Zealand. The levels of protected species captures being reported are broadly in line with our estimates used to inform management advice. The decrease in review rate from the previous quarter is due to the increase in the number of vessels operating cameras in lower risk fisheries.

Metric	1 April to 30 June 2025
Number of vessels with cameras	219
Number of fishing events for which footage was recorded*	11,996
Number of events reviewed by MPI	2,568
Percentage of events reviewed by MPI	21%
Percentage of reviewer detected protected species events that were also reported by fishers	96%
*A fishing event is defined as each time a net or longline is set and retrieved.

Previous quarterly reports

Information related to previous publications of this quarterly report are available on request to Fisheries New Zealand’s Data Team by emailing rdm@mpi.govt.nz