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Proposed changes to the mandatory seabird mitigation measures for commercial fishers using surface longlining

UPDATES

4 July 2024 – New rules to strengthen seabird protections

Following consultation, Fisheries New Zealand has made a decision to update the ‘Fisheries (Seabird Mitigation Measures – Surface Longlines) Circular’ to introduce additional mitigation measures for surface longline fishers that will further reduce the risk to seabirds from fishing.

From 1 October 2024, surface longline fishers will be required to use hook shielding devices or '3 out of 3' mitigation measures at all times. These mitigation measures and the seabird mitigation standards will work together to achieve the objectives of the National Plan of Action for Seabirds.

Seabird mitigation standards for SLL fishing [PDF, 2.7 MB]

National Plan of Action for Seabirds 2020 [PDF, 9.4 MB]

Decision document for amendments to the SLL circular (proactive release) [PDF, 1.7 MB]

Press Release: New fishing rules to strengthen seabird protection

Fact sheet: New mitigation requirements under the updated surface longline circular [PDF, 386 KB]

26 April 2023 – Consultation extended

Consultation on proposed changes to the mandatory seabird mitigation measures for surface longlining was extended by 2 weeks. Submissions closed at 5pm on Friday, 12 May 2023.  

Consultation background

Fisheries New Zealand reviewed the Fisheries (Seabird Mitigation Measures – Surface Longlines) Circular 2019.

We sought feedback from tangata whenua and stakeholders on proposed changes. The circular states the mandatory seabird mitigation measures applicable to commercial fishers using the surface longlining method of fishing within New Zealand waters.

Consultation document

Review of the Fisheries (Seabird Mitigation Measures – Surface Longlines) Circular 2019 [PDF, 477 KB]

Related document

Fisheries (Seabird Mitigation Measures – Surface Longlines) Circular 2019

What was proposed?

Commercial fishers using surface longline are required by law to use a number of mitigation practices to reduce the risk of fishing operations to seabirds. These mandatory practices are set out in the Fisheries (Seabird Mitigation Measures – Surface Longlines) Circular 2019 and include that during setting, fishers must either:

  • use hook-shielding devices on all hooks, or
  • deploy a legal tori (streamer) line, and either set at night, or line weight to legal specifications.

Additional voluntary best practice measures are described in the mitigation standards for surface longline operations. This includes additional measures such as simultaneous use of tori (streamer) lines, line weighting, and night setting, known as "3 out of 3". This consultation sought feedback on potential changes to the circular which will better align it with the voluntary measures set out in the mitigation standards.

Mitigation standards to reduce the incidental captures of seabirds in New Zealand commercial fisheries [PDF, 2.7 MB]

Options proposed in this consultation

  • Option 1: Regulatory status quo.
  • Option 2: Mandate additional "best practice" seabird mitigation measures.
  • Option 3: Spatial/temporal use of "three out of three" (or hook-shielding devices).
  • Option 4: Mandate "three out of three" (or hook-shielding devices) at all times.

Submissions are public information

Note that all, part, or a summary of your submission may be published on this website. Most often this happens when we issue a document that reviews the submissions received.

People can also ask for copies of submissions under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA says we must make the content of submissions available unless we have good reason for withholding it. Those reasons are detailed in sections 6 and 9 of the OIA.

If you think there are grounds to withhold specific information from publication, make this clear in your submission or contact us. Reasons may include that it discloses commercially sensitive or personal information. However, any decision MPI makes to withhold details can be reviewed by the Ombudsman, who may direct us to release it.

Official Information Act 1982 – NZ Legislation

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