ELI says Fisheries New Zealand needs to act quickly to improve its long-term options for protecting hoiho, as the urgent hearing on emergency measures wrapped up today in the Wellington High Court.

ELI is in the High Court this week for an urgent hearing challenging the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries’ emergency set-net fishing closure, which ELI argues is inadequate to protect the critically endangered northern hoiho (yellow-eyed penguin). 

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 New Zealand waters. 

The Environmental Law Initiative (ELI) has filed High Court proceedings against the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries, challenging a recent decision to close a portion of northern hoiho habitat to setnet fishing.

The Environmental Law Initiative (ELI) says today’s announcement of an emergency three-month closure of set-net fishing around the Otago Peninsula by Minister for Oceans and Fisheries Shane Jones will protect some hoiho, while leaving others unprotected.

The support of Otago set-net fishers for emergency closures of set-net fishing shows action to urgently protect hoiho has broad backing, and it is time for Ministers to act.  

Hoiho (yellow-eyed penguins) are one of Aotearoa’s most treasured taonga — and one of the world’s rarest penguins.

Sadly, they are in serious trouble, especially the mainland population, which is in rapid decline and at risk of extinction.

We’ve written to Ministers calling for urgent action to protect hoiho.

The Environmental Law Initiative says the Government is under-levying the fishing industry by millions of dollars, which is contributing to the insufficient resourcing of marine conservation research and the decreasing deployment of fishery observers.  

From the shallows to the deep, the oceans surrounding Aotearoa are among the most biodiverse on Earth. They are a taonga — and caring for them is essential. 
 
We’re taking the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries to the Wellington High Court for failing to uphold the law in managing orange roughy fisheries.