Hoki fishing is responsible for more fur seal deaths than any other trawl fishery, despite its international certification as a sustainable industry, Forest and Bird says.
A Ministry of Fisheries research report showed about 714 fur seals were killed by offshore trawl fisheries in the 2007-2008 season, with 273 deaths from hoki fishing alone.
"The research report shows that certification under the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has not prevented large numbers of fur seals from being killed in the hoki fishery," Forest and Bird marine conservation advocate Kirstie Knowles said.
Hoki fishery was first certified as sustainable by MSC in 2001. It was recertified in 2007, despite objections from Forest and Bird and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) New Zealand.
Ms Knowles said while there had been a decline in the number of fur seal captures in 2002-2003, captures had spiked by 72 percent come 2007-2008.
"It is also very worrying to see the high number of fur seal deaths in the hake and southern blue whiting fisheries as they are currently applying for MSC certification and are undergoing assessment."
New Zealand fur seals are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, although accidental deaths fall under the discretion of Fisheries Minister Phil Heatley.
