Aquatic Environment and Biodiversity Annual Review 2012

AEBAR 2012: Protected species: Fur seals
In 2004, DOC approved the Department of Conservation Marine Mammal Action Plan for 2005–
2010 20 (Suisted and Neale 2009). The plan specifies a number of species-specific key objectives for
NZ fur seals, of which the following is most relevant for fisheries interactions: “To control/mitigate
fishing-related mortality of NZ fur seals in trawl fisheries (including the WCSI hoki and Bounty Island
southern blue whiting fisheries).”
Management of NZ fur seal incidental captures aligns with Fisheries 2030 Objective 6: Manage
impacts of fishing and aquaculture. Further, the management actions follow Strategic Action 6.2: Set
and monitor environmental standards, including for threatened and protected species and seabed
impacts.
All National Fisheries Plans except those for inshore shellfish and freshwater fisheries are relevant to
the management of fishing-related mortality of NZ fur seals.
Under the National Deepwater Plan, the objective most relevant for management of NZ fur seals is
Management Objective 2.5: Manage deepwater and middle-depth fisheries to avoid or minimise
adverse effects on the long-term viability of endangered, threatened and protected species.
Specific objectives for the management of NZ fur seals bycatch are to be outlined in the fisheryspecific
chapters of the National Deepwater Plan for the fisheries with which NZ fur seals are most
likely to interact. These fisheries include hoki (HOK), southern blue whiting (SBW), hake (HAK) and
jack mackerel (JMA). The HOK chapter of the National Deepwater Plan is complete and includes
Operational Objective 2.11: Ensure that incidental marine mammal captures in the hoki fishery are
avoided and minimised to acceptable levels (which may include standards) by 2012. The SBW
chapter is nearing completion while the timeframes for the HAK and JMA chapters are yet to be
confirmed.
Management Objective 7 of the National Fisheries Plan for Highly Migratory Species (HMS) is to
“Implement an ecosystem approach to fisheries management, taking into account associated and
dependent species.” This comprises four components: Avoid, remedy, or mitigate the adverse effects
of fishing on associated and dependent species, including through maintaining foodchain
relationships; Minimise unwanted bycatch and maximise survival of incidental catches of protected
species in HMS fisheries, using a risk management approach; Increase the level and quality of
information available on the capture of protected species; and Recognise the intrinsic values of HMS
and their ecosystems, comprising predators, prey, and protected species.
The Environment Objective is the same for all groups of fisheries in the draft National Fisheries Plan
for Inshore Finfish, to “Minimise adverse effects of fishing on the aquatic environment, including on
biological diversity”. The draft National Fisheries Plans for Inshore Shellfish and Freshwater have the
same objective but are unlikely to be relevant to management of fishing-related mortality of NZ fur
seals.
4.2. Biology
4.2.1. Taxonomy
The NZ fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri (Lesson, 1828)) is one of only two species of otariid (eared
seals, includes fur seals and sea lions) native to New Zealand, the other being the New Zealand sea
lion (Phocarctos hookeri (Gray, 1844)).
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DOC has confirmed that the Marine Mammal Action Plan for 2005–2010 still reflects DOC’s priorities for
marine mammal conservation.
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