No one likes a bad result, whether it’s an election, an exam or a sports match. But when we get one, we have to face it, front it and figure out how to do better.
This week, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) released the quarterly protected species bycatch numbers for our sector (Q3, April to June). These numbers record the interactions between commercial fishing vessels of all types and protected species, including seabirds, fur seals and dolphins.
The total interactions can be up and down. As the guys on the water know, they are very much affected by seasons among other things. So, we look for trends over time and we try to get to the bottom of what’s driving the numbers and, crucially, what can we do to improve them.
The data shows us where we need to focus more of our attention and where greater bycatch mitigation efforts are needed. So, while it can be very confronting, it is also a tool that should not be ignored. And we don’t ignore it.
Some of the data released this week makes for tough reading. We are unhappy with the fur seal numbers, which were higher than expected: 137 were captured by commercial fishers (note, these are captures; some are mortalities and others are released back to the ocean alive, and at least 53 were alive in this data set). To be clear, we’re not happy with the captures of any protected species. Obviously.
So why is this happening? One reason is there are simply more fur seals. The guys on the water are seeing it first hand. The last population estimate for fur seals was in 2001 and was 200,000 but the Department of Conservation (DOC) have since said this will be higher now.
We have been hearing reports of increases in fur seal activity around vessels, particularly on the East Coast of the South Island and in the Cook Strait.
But in Cook Strait, there’s good news too.
As we mentioned in last week’s Update, Sealord has been trialling various fur seal mitigation measures on their vessels. The result over the course of a whole year was excellent – they have been able to reduce seal captures by a third.
We also told you last week about what fishers in jack mackerel 7 have done over the course of a decade. They had a whole fishing year with zero protected species interactions. None. No dolphins, seabirds or fur seals.
The crucial thing is understanding how and then figuring out what can be applied in other fisheries, where conditions and fishing methods may be very different. In short (because you can see the detail in last week’s Update if you want it), its about a commitment to experimentation and communication.
Our role at Seafood New Zealand is to foster both. So, if you’re a fisher struggling to figure out what to do about those rafts of fur seals you’re coming across, we’re probably already talking to you. But if we’re not, contact us.
We have plans and programmes in place and under development to reduce seabird captures, keep dolphins away from fishing nets (and fishing nets away from dolphins), protect sea lions and avoid fur seals. And when we say “we”, we mean the fishing sector. Because it’s the fishers who are doing this stuff – trying new techniques that cost time and money, and doing it willingly. Many of the good ideas come directly from the fishers, whether it’s developing totally new weighted hooks, testing underwater cameras or adopting exclusion devices for seals and sea lions.
No one likes a bad result. But if you’re a grown up you don’t go “f..k it” and you don’t go “too hard,” you get on with trying to get a better result next time and the time after that.
And for any environmental groups that want to talk to us about reducing protected species interactions, please get in touch. We can show you what we’re doing already and look for practical ideas we might be able to introduce together.
