Beefed-up regulations governing seabird strikes in longline fisheries are being introduced by Fisheries New Zealand, aiming to reduce the risk of seabirds, including critically threatened albatrosses, being caught accidentally by commercial fishing operations.
From 1st October longliners will be required to either use special hook shielding devices or implement all three key seabird mitigations measures at the same time. This is a step up from previous requirements that demanded only two of the three key provisions be implemented during longlining.
According to Fisheries New Zealand’s director fisheries management Emma Taylor, skippers who chose not to use hook shielding devices must use bird scaring devices known as tori lines and use line weighting to sink hooks faster, and gear must be set at night.
‘The new rules will strengthen protections for some of our most vulnerable seabirds, like albatrosses and petrels. With around 145 seabird species calling New Zealand’s waters home, we have one of the most diverse seabird communities in the world, and we want to make sure it stays that way,’ she said.
Fishers don’t go out to catch seabirds and these measures will help ensure that the surface longline fleet have the best chance of avoiding seabirds that are trying to sneak a feed off their hooks. While we acknowledge that many surface longline fishers have already adopted the use of hook shielding devices or use ‘three out of three’ at least some of the time, the new rules will ensure a consistent approach and further reduce fishing risks for these precious seabirds.’
Emma Taylor commented that surface longline vessels have been operating onboard cameras since January this year, and that insights from the camera programme, along with feedback from public consultation and scientific modelling, have supported the decision for this rule change.
‘We have systems to monitor the position of all commercial fishing vessels in real time, and fishers are legally required to report their catch and position to us electronically. Alongside this, onboard cameras provide independent verification of fishing activity, including accidental bycatch of protected species,’ she said.
Fisheries New Zealand and the Department of Conservation will be working closely with fishers to support them to transition to the new rules. Many seabird species found in New Zealand waters also travel widely beyond our borders. We continue to work with other countries, through international conventions, to reduce the effects of fishing on seabirds throughout the South Pacific and Southern Oceans.’
