Squid fishing levies deadly toll on sea lions

The Forest and Bird Society says the Auckland Island squid fishery will have to close for the season shortly, following reports that more than 100 sea lions have been killed this year, just short of the 115 permitted.

The Ministry of Fisheries closes the squid season when the sea lion by-product quota is reached, as it has been in seven of the past eight years.

The imminent closure showed the need for fishers to change their net-fishing method, said Forest and Bird senior researcher Barry Weeber.

"We urge the Minister of Fisheries [David Benson-Pope] to look at alternative fishing methods for the fishery.

"Sea lion deaths would drop to virtually zero if the minister required the squid fishers to use jiggers."

Jiggers were used in the Falkland Islands and previously round the Auckland Islands, said Mr Weeber.

Forest and Bird wants the Government to extend a marine mammal sanctuary round the Auckland Islands, which have World Heritage status.

The sea lions - a species virtually exclusive to the Auckland Islands and Campbell Island - are estimated to number about 7000.

They have been gazetted as threatened by the Ministry of Conservation.

- NZPA