Bottom Trawling

Bottom trawling, also known as Benthic (seabed habitat) trawling, is a fishing method in which trawl nets are towed along the sea floor.

Trawling is the most important commercial fishing method in New Zealand, especially for deepsea species. It is used to catch a range of species, including orange roughy, hoki, ling, hake and squid.

However, New Zealand and international research has indicated that this form of fishing can have significant and adverse impacts on the benthic environment.

The Government has recognised this problem and has launched a number of initiatives to begin to address the issue. These include:

Benthic Impacts Strategy - The Benthic Impacts Strategy sets out the government’s process for setting limits around the effects of fishing on sea-bed habitats.

Benthic Impacts Strategy >>


The Benthic Protected Areas initiative – Protection of 17 different areas from bottom trawling and dredging. This covers the seabed habitat of 30 percent of New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

Benthic Protected Areas >>


Marine Protected Areas – A network of protected marine habitats in our coastal waters (out to 12 nautical miles) to look after examples of our different marine habitats and ecosystems, as well as those that are outstanding or rare.

Marine Protected Areas >>


Scientific research – Projects such as the Chatham/Challenger, which maps and compares seabed habitats, to improve knowledge of the impact of trawl fishing.

Chatham/Challenger Project >>


Additionally, a number of meetings have been held to set up a South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (SPRFMO). At the third meeting, in May 2007, interim measures were agreed to limit high seas bottom trawling in the South Pacific.

Late last year the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution requiring states to take action on managing the effects of bottom trawling on the High Seas.


MFish Links:

Benthic Protected Areas

Marine Protected Areas

Chatham/Challenger Project

Environmental Issues


Other Links:

Bottom Trawling Strategy - Department of Conservation

SPRFMO


Press Releases:

Major investment in deep sea research project (June 2007)
New Zealand in leadership role protecting marine environment (May 2007)
Groundbreaking initiative to protect underwater habitats (April 2007)
NZ continues to progress bottom trawling at the UN (November 2006)
NZ to take strong stance on bottom trawling (September 2006)
NZ welcomes Australian stance on bottome trawling (September 2006)
NZ calls for urgent action on high seas bottom trawling (February 2006)