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About our fishing industry and fish stocks
The seafood sector provides an important source of revenue, jobs, and opportunities to New Zealand with export revenue forecast to increase 3% to $2.2 billion in the year to 30 June 2025.
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.
Fishing events between January and March 2025
Over the quarter from January 1 to March 31 there were 38,948 reported fishing events and 94,356 tonnes of fish landed. The increase in catch is attributable to a general rise in activity over the summer months, with hoki catch increasing significantly.
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.
The catch data spreadsheet below contains monthly harvest return data for all Quota Management System (QMS) fishstocks:
Catch data – Q2 2024-25 October fishing year [XLSX, 39 KB]
The number of interactions with protected species this quarter
Of these events, 2% 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 and are 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 mitigations 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, 311 KB]
This data can be subject to reporting errors
The data in these quarterly reports has been provided by fishers via the electronic reporting system. Where protected species reporting errors are identified through review of footage, we work with fishers to update the data.
Details of main accidental captures this quarter
Seabirds
New rules that came into effect on 1 October 2024 have reduced the risk of seabirds being caught in the surface longline fishery. These 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.
'3 out of 3' mitigations include:
- using bird scaring devices called 'tori lines'
- using weighted lines to sink hooks faster
- setting gear at night.
These measures are targeted to reduce the number of albatross and other seabirds captured.
Sixteen albatross were reported captured across the surface longline fleet this quarter, which is a significant reduction on the same quarter last year, where 124 albatross were reported.
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.
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.
This quarter, 962 seabirds were captured. Of those, 666 were associated with trawl fishing, 150 with bottom longline, 30 surface longline, and 14 setnet.
There was a single large capture event of 207 sooty shearwater in a trawl event in the Southland region. All regional operators were notified of this capture event, and the operational measures that can be used to reduce the likelihood of further, large capture events. Fisheries New Zealand also connected with Seafood New Zealand, DOC and local commercial fishers to discuss the circumstances behind captures and mitigation measures.
Dolphins
Hector’s and Māui dolphins face a variety of threats, including from fishing, which are managed by Fisheries New Zealand and the 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]
There were 3 Hector's dolphin captures this quarter: 2 in the Timaru region and 1 in Southland.
Capture thresholds, called Fishing-Related Mortality Limits (FRMLs), trigger a range of actions depending on the effect of the capture on the dolphin population. Onboard camera footage review has enabled direct engagement with fishers about practices to support improvements and avoid captures.
In line with the Bycatch Reduction Plan, a vessel-based response was implemented following all 3 captures. Each of these involved:
- Requesting an immediate ‘move-on’ by the vessel, vacating the vicinity of the capture (‘move-on rule’)
- Direct engagement between the Department of Conservation protected species liaison officer, Seafood New Zealand and the fisher to review the capture and improve mitigation measures
- Confirmation by Fisheries New Zealand that the vessel was operating in accordance with fisheries regulations designed to reduce the risk of protected species captures
- Review of onboard camera footage associated with the capture event.
In addition to a vessel-based response, the Southland capture and second Timaru capture estimated to ≥25% of their respective regional FRMLs. Each capture therefore triggered an area-based response to reduce the likelihood of further captures.
Nine bottlenose dolphins were caught this quarter. Bottlenose dolphins are common worldwide. They are assessed in New Zealand as 'Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable' because of the small local population (around 1,600). An unusual capture event took place when a deepwater vessel caught 8 bottlenose dolphins on the Chatham Rise when midwater trawling for squid. The vessel had an observer on board and had mitigations in place to reduce captures. Vessels moved away from the area after the event occurred and additional mitigations were introduced.
Turtles
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.
There were 34 turtle reported captures across commercial fisheries in the January to March quarter. All were reported as released alive. The increase this quarter reflects changing fishing patterns, with surface longline vessels staying around the North Island for longer this season. 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.
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 sealions and fur seals
The conservation status of NZ sea lion 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.
Three sea lions were reported caught in the southern squid trawl fishery this quarter. The vessels involved had observers onboard and were deploying Sea Lion Exclusion Devices (SLEDs) correctly. An average of 3 sea lions per year 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 this area.
Fisheries New Zealand works closely with the 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.
There were 55 reported captures of New Zealand fur seals this quarter, compared to the 23 reported in the previous quarter. This reflects the seasonality of the squid fishery, which is at its peak during this quarter. New Zealand fur seals are classified as 'Not Threatened' by the DOC, and there is evidence of northward expansion of the distribution of breeding colonies.
On-board cameras are now live on 192 commercial fishing vessels (as of 31 March)
From 3 March 2025, all bottom longline and inshore trawl vessels have been required to operate cameras, regardless of area fished.
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
Twenty-seven percent of footage collected from vessels was reviewed this quarter. 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.
The vast majority of protected species captures are being consistently reported by fishers, with 97% 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.
| Metric | 1 January to 31 March 2025 |
| Number of vessels with cameras | 192 |
| Number of fishing events for which footage was recorded* | 10,480 |
| Number of events reviewed by MPI | 2,959 |
| Percentage of events reviewed by MPI | 27% |
|
Percentage of reviewer detected protected species events that were also reported by fishers |
97% |
|
*A fishing event is defined as each time a net or longline is set and retrieved. |
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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
Related information about fishing and protected species
Managing the impact of fishing on protected species
Fisheries New Zealand seabird risk assessment [PDF, 3.5 MB]
Hector’s and Māui dolphins threat management plan review
National Plan of Action – Seabirds [PDF, 9.4 MB]
National Plan of Action – Sharks [PDF, 709 KB]
Risk assessment of commercial fisheries to New Zealand seabirds [PDF, 3.5 MB]
