The Resource Centre is an extensive library of documents, data and links relevant to fisheries management and Rescue Fish. Browse using the links below, and click the triangle button to explore subsections.
Marine Policy Paper. Bycatch is defined as catch that is either unused or unmanaged. Globally, bycatch represents 40.4% of all marine catch. NZ’s bycatch is estimated to be around 24.6% of all marine catch per year. Davies et al.
Download > (pdf, 240.45 KB)Letter from Andrew Talley to the Director of Fisheries Management, Stuart Anderson, advising that discarding would continue with or without cameras on board fishing vessels, unless fisheries policy was changed.
Download > (pdf, 216.14 KB)A report of the findings of an MPI investigation into the level of dumping and high grading occurring in the trawl and setnet fishery off the south and southeast coast of the South Island. The investigation was called Operation Hippocamp and was conducted between February and March 2012 for the Ministry for Primary Industries. The […]
Download > (pdf, 1.99 MB)A summary of the findings of Operation Hippocamp conducted by the Ministry for Primary Industries in early 2012. Operation Hippocamp gathered catch information to determine the level of dumping and high grading in the trawl and setnet fishery off the south and southeast coast of the South Island. Summary by LegaSea. Dated 9 June 2016.
Download > (pdf, 126.89 KB)A report of Operation Achilles conducted by the Ministry for Primary Industries between November 2012 and March 2013. Findings of an investigation into the onboard practices of six setnet commercial vessels operating on the east coast of the South Island. Report by an MPI investigator. Dated January 2014.
Download > (pdf, 20.11 MB)Summary of Operation Achilles conducted by the Ministry for Primary Industries between November 2012 and March 2013. A summary of the Operation and the findings. Compiled by LegaSea in June 2016.
Download > (pdf, 137.08 KB)
Pauly, Simmons et al. Working Paper. A reconstruction of New Zealand’s marine fisheries catches between 1950 and 2010. New Zealand’s current statistics are incomplete due to the omission of significant amounts of unreported landings. This reconstruction accounts for unreported catch to provide a more comprehensive picture of total marine fisheries catches taken from New Zealand […]
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In May 2016 the Ministry for Primary Industries commissioned Michael Heron QC to carry out an independent review of three fisheries compliance operations and associated prosecution decisions. Those were Operations Achilles, Hippocamp and Overdue. The report is dated 15 September 2016. Please follow the link to download the full report.
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Article. Aotearoa Fisheries, the largest Māori fishing company in New Zealand, says there is no illegal dumping of fish by its vessels. Comments made in response to the Catch Reconstruction report released by the Universities of Auckland and British Columbia. 17 May 2016.
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The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations reports on the different solutions for reducing marine mammal bycatch in fisheries and aquaculture operations worldwide. Report of the expert workshop held in Rome, 20-23 March 2018.
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Leading NZ marine scientists Liz Slooten and Steve Dawson comment on how irresponsible fishing is endangering New Zealand’s sea lions and Hector’s dolphins. NZ Herald article. 26 June 2006.
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Data obtained by Forest & Bird shows that in 2017, 44 dolphins were caught in purse seine fishing nets in the Bay of Plenty. Over the past 7 years 53 dolphins in total have been caught by commercial fishers. NZ Herald. 15 December 2017. Tauranga locals are shocked at the revelations that of the 44 […]
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Frequently Asked Questions about bottom trawling. What is bottom trawling, why is it unpopular with the public and how much trawling is occurring in New Zealand waters? Also LegaSea’s view on bottom trawling. LegaSea. November 2019.
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Francisco Blaha discusses some pros and cons related to Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs). He reports that around 50% of canned tuna comes from skipjack caught with the aid of FADs. Concerns with the use of FADs include the amount of unintended and unwanted catch that is caught along with the target species. This catch is […]
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Forest & Bird has released a series of images depicting dead sea lions, yellow eyed penguins and dolphins caught by commercial fishers. Forest & Bird says it has received the “shocking” information under the Official Information Act, and that it provide evidence of the destructive fishing methods used in NZ waters. The Ministry for Primary […]
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Dave Hansford investigates the illegal fishing practices and corruption occurring under a broken fisheries management system in New Zealand. This article includes revelations about widespread illegal fishing, highlighting the failure of free market policy to protect New Zealand’s environment and common assets. New Zealand Geographic. 2016.
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Bottom trawling in the deep sea destroys corals and the seabed environment. Researchers have found that 15 years after bottom trawling has stopped there was still no evidence of recovery. This raises serious concerns that it could take decades, maybe centuries, for the coral forests to return after bottom trawling stops. Charlie Mitchell, Stuff. 7 […]
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The commercial fishing industry has asked the Government to block public access to photos and videos revealing dumping and seabird bycatch. The fishing industry believes such revelations may damage New Zealand’s international reputation. Michael Morrah. Newshub. 16 January 2018.
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