Fish nets killing seals—ecologist

Press, 26 July 1989, Page 9

Fish nets killing seals —ecologist

By

JANE DUNBAR

Fur seals are dying in fishing nets off the West Coast and are being shot in Kaikoura by fishermen, says a Lincoln College lecturer.

The number of seals being killed was of grave concern, said Mr Graham Wilson, a lecturer in ogyin the first weeks of the West Coast hoki fishery season, 97 seal deaths were reported. This information came from observers on only eight boats out of 43, so it was likely far more were dying, he said. If female seals from the breeding colonies near Cape Foulwind were being caught there would be an immediate decline

in the population. It was alarming that seals were being shot in Kaikoura by fishermen who believed the seals were eating the same fish they were trying to catch, said Mr Wilson. There was no evidence to suggest seals had caused the decline in fish stocks, he said. Mr Wilson has been involved with fur-seal surveys for a number of years. At this time of year there were about 4000 seals in the West Coast hoki fishery area, he said.

Fishing started at the beginning of July and is expected to continue until September. The seals have been caught by boats more than 40km offshore. Most boats are working for joint ventures between New Zealand, Japanese and Soviet fishing companies. The Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society wants the Government and the fishing industry to act immediately to stop the seal deaths. New Zealand’s credibility in the international campaign against drift-

netting would nosedive unless action was taken, said the society’s conservation director, Mr Kevin Smith.

A suggestion by the fishing industry that seals were deliberately getting caught in nets and that only an “infinitesmal” percentage was being killed, brought the industry into disrepute, he said. The society wants an immediate ban on the dumping of offal in the trawling area, as the offal attracts seals close to the boats.