11576 (2024). Teanau Tuiono to the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries

11576 (2024). Teanau Tuiono to the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries: How many albatrosses, if any, were recorded (by observers and/or fishers) as bycatch from fishing vessels (trawl, surface longline, bottom longline) in the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 fishing years and how does this compare with the previous five fishing years

Hon Shane Jones: I refer the member to the attached table which contains the number of fisher reported captures of albatrosses for vessels using the fishing methods: trawl, surface longline (SLL), or bottom longline (BLL) between 2018 and 2023 fishing years. Please note the 2023 and 2024 fishing year is not yet complete. The data will be published on the website: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/fishing-aquaculture/sustainable-fisheries/managing-the-impact-of-fishing-on-protected-species/seabirds-and-protected-marine-species-caught-by-commercial-fishers/ There are various mitigations measures currently in place for trawl, surface longline and bottom longline. The majority of albatross captures took place in the surface longline fishery. Fisheries New Zealand recently consulted on strengthened seabird mitigation measures for this fleet.