Calling on Ministers to use their powers to protect leatherback turtles
We’re calling on the Minister of Conservation and Minister for Oceans and Fisheries to take immediate action to prevent fishing-related deaths of critically endangered West Pacific leatherback turtle in Aotearoa New Zealand waters.
About leatherback turtles
Leatherbacks are the largest turtle in the world. In summer months, members of the West Pacific leatherback turtle subpopulation migrate to Aotearoa New Zealand waters to feed, heading as far south as Fiordland.
Leatherback turtles are classified as ‘Vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List, with the West Pacific population classified as ‘Critically Endangered’ and facing imminent extinction.
The geographically and genetically distinct West Pacific subpopulation declined by 87% between 1984 and 2017, with population estimates lacking after 2017. A 2013 assessment estimated that only 1,438 mature adults remained.
Leatherback turtles are regularly caught by New Zealand surface longline fishing. While other jurisdictions, such as Hawai’i, have strong measures to protect leatherback turtles, New Zealand has no restrictions on the number of leatherback turtle deaths.
With no limit on turtle bycatch in NZ, how many are we catching?
Fisheries NZ research shows that more than one in five interactions by New Zealand surface longline fishing vessels with leatherback turtles results in the death of a turtle.
According to the Department of Conservation, the 2020-2021 fishing season saw a significant spike in captures with 58 interactions recorded. Between 2007 and 2021 there were 273 reports of turtle captures. 217 of those were leatherbacks, at an average of 15.5 per year.
In the 2024-2025 fishing year, there have been 43 interactions with leatherback turtles, all from SLL fisheries, with three months of data still to come.
We wrote to:
Minister for Oceans and Fisheries, Shane Jones: Requesting he use his powers under the Fisheries Act 1996 to set a fishing-related mortality limit (FRML) for leatherback turtles and impose emergency measures. We suggested he close or restrict surface longline fishing in Fisheries Management Areas 1 and 2 from January to March 2026, when bycatch risk is highest.
Minister of Conservation, Tama Potaka: Requesting he urgently prepare and implement a Population Management Plan under the Wildlife Act 1953, with a maximum allowable limit of fishing-related mortality. While this plan is being developed, interim measures by the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries are critical.
Be an advocate for leatherback turtles
Leatherback turtles need our help. If you’d like to add your voice and call for stronger protections, you can write directly to the Ministers. You can use the following template letter or write your own. We encourage you to add a personal touch to it, explaining why this is important to you.
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Tēnā kōrua Ministers,
I am writing to express my concern about the critically endangered West Pacific leatherback turtle. This population declined by 87% between 1984 and 2017, with population estimates lacking after 2017. A 2013 assessment estimated that only 1,438 mature adults remained. Without immediate intervention, extinction is a real possibility.New Zealand’s surface longline fisheries pose a serious threat, with 43 leatherback interactions already recorded this season. These turtles migrate through our waters during summer, making immediate action essential.
As Ministers responsible for oceans, fisheries, and conservation, you both have important roles to play:
Minister for Oceans and Fisheries: Please exercise your powers under the Fisheries Act 1996 to set a fishing-related mortality limit (FRML) for leatherback turtles and impose emergency measures. Specifically, close or restrict surface longline fishing in Fisheries Management Areas 1 and 2 from January to March 2026, when bycatch risk is highest.
Minister of Conservation: Please urgently prepare and implement a Population Management Plan under the Wildlife Act 1953, with a maximum allowable limit of fishing-related mortality. While this plan is being developed, interim measures by the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries are critical.
Other jurisdictions, like Hawaii, have successfully reduced leatherback bycatch by 83% through strict limits and monitoring. New Zealand should follow this international best practice.
As a member of the Western & Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, we have committed to international guidelines to reduce sea turtle mortality. Please act now to ensure these protections are implemented before it’s too late.
Ngā mihi,
[Your Name]
Minister contact details:
Hon Tama Potaka — Minister of Conservation
Email: t.potaka@parliament.govt.nz
Hon Shane Jones — Minister for Oceans and Fisheries
Email: s.jones@parliament.govt.nz
Every message counts — thank you for helping protect leatherback turtles in our moana!
Image with thanks to NOAA
