407 seabirds reported captured by New Zealand fisheries in 2023/24

A report to the Conservation Services Programme, Department of Conservation in New Zealand by ‘Biz’ Bell and D. Mclaren of Wildlife Management International write that 407 seabirds of 23 species were reported captured alive or dead by New Zealand fisheries in 2023/24.  Four ACAP-listed species (three albatrosses and the White-chinned Petrel) were in the top five by numbers.

The report’s abstract follows:

“The New Zealand Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) supports a diverse range of seabird species. Much of the commercial fishing activity in the region overlaps with seabird foraging ranges. The accurate identification of bycatch seabirds interacting with New Zealand fisheries is vital for determining the impact of fisheries on these seabird populations.

Between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024, a total of 407 seabirds were reported as incidental interactions with commercial fishing vessels by on-board New Zealand Government Observers from 104 observed trips on 30 vessels. These 407 seabirds comprised 23 identifiable species with 13 only identified to family or genus level.

There were 139 seabirds (34%) classed as live interactions (birds released alive) and 268 (66%) resulted in the death of the seabird. Of the 139 alive events, 124 (89%) were interaction-only (i.e., no photograph taken) and only 15 (11%) were photographed interactions. Of the 268 deceased seabirds, 27 (10%) were interaction-only (i.e., no photograph taken), 101 (38%) were photographed interactions and the remaining 140 (52%) were returned for necropsy.

Of the 140 individual seabirds killed by incidental bycatch and returned for necropsy between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024, most were returned in the first six months of 2024 (n=88, 63%), with the highest captures during February 2024 (n=27, 19%) and March 2024 (n=22, 16%).

The five most prevalent seabird species returned for necropsy were toroa/Salvin’s albatross (Thalassarche salvini) (n=36, 26%), tītī/sooty shearwater (Ardenna grisea) (n=31, 22%), karetai kauae mā/white-chinned petrel (Procellaria aequinoctialis) (n=22, 16%), toroa/New Zealand white-capped albatross (Thalassarche cauta steadi) (n=17, 12%), and toroa/southern Buller’s albatross (Thalassarche bulleri bulleri) (n=15, 11%).

Of the 140 necropsy birds, 131 (94%) were adults, with mostly males (n=77, 55%) returned. The number of breeding birds were 84 individuals (60%), and seven (5%) birds were confirmed as non-breeding.

The birds returned for necropsy were killed from a variety of fishing methods, such as trawl (n=94, 67%), longline (n=30, 21%), set net (n=5, 4%) with the remaining 11 birds (8%) still to have their fishing method confirmed. This resulted in 221 injuries recorded with most predominant cause identified as waterlogged (n=57, 41% of all birds returned) of which 53% were represented as albatross. Broken wings were frequently observed (n=32, 23% of all birds returned) and present in 74 (53%) of all albatrosses and 66 (47%) smaller seabird (i.e., petrel, shearwater, prion, etc.) captures. No visible injuries were present in 33 (24%) of returned birds, of which 52% were albatross and 49% were smaller seabirds.

In addition to the seabirds that were returned for necropsy, examination of data, photographs or videos from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) Central Observer Database (COD) and images provided by Government Observers identified a further 267 seabirds reported as seabird-vessel interactions or photographed (as dead or alive captures) aboard 30 fishing vessels. Of these interactions, 151 (57%) had no associated photographs taken (i.e., interaction-only) and most (n=126, 83%) were released alive or left the vessel unaided. The remaining 116 (43%) seabird interactions were photographed and had corresponding entries in the COD extract.”

Reference:

Bell, E.A. & Mclaren, D. 2025.  INT2022-02: Identification of seabirds captured in New Zealand Fisheries: 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024.  Unpublished Wildlife Management International Technical Report for the Department of Conservation.  Blenheim: Wildlife Management International Ltd.  33 pp.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 05 December 2025