Map showing Leatherback Turtle bycatch in NZ waters

[Michael Szabo]

There has been a "substantial increase" in bycatch of critically endangered Leatherback Turtles by commercial longline fishing vessels in NZ waters.

A new NIWA report commissioned by DOC found that from 2020 to 2021, 58 marine turtles were caught. Ninety percent, or 52, were Leatherbacks. The remaining captures were Green Turtles, which are endangered.

Most were caught in Fisheries Management Area (FMA) 1, New Zealand's biggest fishery off the eastern coast of Northland, Auckland, and the Bay of Plenty.

Leatherback Turtle bycatch in Aotearoa exceeds the catch limit set in Hawaii by more than three times. If any more than 16 Leatherback Turtles are caught in Hawaiian waters in a year, the entire longline fishery there is shut down. In New Zealand, no such rule exists.

Link to map: https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zeal ... _29511.jpg

Link to news report: https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zeal ... aters.html

[Neil Fitzgerald]

Perhaps Sea Shepherd could take NZ to court on this subject as well.

[Michael Szabo]

It may come under the legal case being brought against the government for failing to use laws that would protect thousands of marine animals. The case was filed in May by the Environmental Law Initiative - a non-profit NGO which aims to ensure the effective protection of natural resources. Both Green Turtle and Leatherback Turtle are endangered species.

Link to RNZ story: https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programm ... ne-animals