Submission points for Fisheries NZ consultation on long-term measures for hoiho
"We’re in a conservation crisis, and we need to do everything we can to stop deaths of hoiho by set net fishing.
“Does Fisheries NZ understand the gravity of the situation? Based on the proposed long-term measures, we’d argue it doesn’t.”
— ELI’s Senior Legal Advisor Megan Cornforth-Camden.
Fisheries New Zealand is taking submissions on options for long-term protections for hoiho. Submissions are open until December 12.
We encourage you to make a submission raising your concerns with Fisheries NZ. The following are some points you may wish to include in your submission (we will also add our submission to this page when it is ready):
The northern population of hoiho are rapidly declining and are at risk of extinction. They are genetically discrete from the southern population.
The northern population face a range of threats. The risk of drowning in set nets is the one risk which can be removed.
The consultation document says there are 143 nests. This number is from last spring. The current count is nearly complete and the up to date number is likely to be out soon. I am concerned that it will be even lower.
FNZ proposes three options. None of the options are sufficient to stabilise the population, let alone let it recover.
Allowing up to four bycatch interactions per year is not a meaningful reduction.
The measures leave hoiho exposed to the risk of bycatch, especially around Rakiura and the Catlins.
This is a conservation crisis, and we need to do everything we can to stop deaths of hoiho by set net fishing,
I call on Fisheries NZ to recommend a bycatch limit of 0, and extend set net fishing closures to all hoiho habitat.