Seabird protection failing, says Green MP

Government targets to protect endangered birds from being killed in commercial fishing nets have not been met and hundreds of birds and marine animals are dying, Green MP Metiria Turei says.

Ms Turei told Parliament yesterday that despite new regulations put in place this year the number of birds, sea lions, and seals caught in nets remained unacceptably high.

Neither the fishery industry nor the Ministry of Fisheries were doing enough to stop marine life being "needlessly killed", she said.

"Why has the ministry failed to meet every one one of the deadlines in the national plan of action on seabirds and why have industry plans for decreasing seabird deaths not been implemented?"

Over the past three years observers reported almost 340 seabirds, sea lions and seals deaths caused by squid fishing but the actual number was probably much higher, Ms Turei said.

Over February and March this year 66 reported by-catch deaths were reported.

Among the deaths were albatross and hookers sea lions, which were listed as threatened and endangered species.

Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton said the ministry and the fishing industry took the protection of marine life seriously.

"Goals are there to be achieved but from time to time targets are missed," he said.

"Lots of initiative have been taken and sometimes [the fishing] industry need thanks for that and congratulations and not brickbats."

Mr Anderton said he had "plenty of evidence" that the fishing industry was exploring new and innovative ways of reducing the number of deaths.

"No responsible fisher, either company, corporation or individual, intends catching non-fish by-catch."

- NZPA