A reduction in the estimated number of accidental fishing-related deaths of threatened New Zealand sea lions is still not low enough, the Dunedin-based New Zealand Sea Lion Trust says.
Phil Heatley of the Minister of Fisheries set the fishing related mortality limit (FRML) for the Auckland Island squid fishery at 76 sea lions for the 2010 season, down from the 113 set last year.
"I was very mindful of the recent and significant decline in the number of sea lion pups and I have taken a particularly cautious approach," he said.
It was a hard decision to make, as he had to balance the need to protect the sea lions with the obligation under the Fisheries Act to allow for squid fishing.
For the year to October, squid fisheries brought in $73 million in export revenues.
He hoped next year he would be able to base his decision on research into the effectiveness of the fleet's sea lion-exclusion devices, which allow sea lions to escape from trawl nets.
Forest and Bird marine conservation advocate Kirstie Knowles said a much lower figure should have been chosen.
The latest sea lion population figures showed the population had dropped to 9800 from between 12,000 and 14,000.
"In setting the 76 figure he has failed to adequately reflect the alarming 31% fall in the number of sea lion pups born last summer and a decline in the overall population."
New Zealand Sea Lion Trust chairman Shaun McConkey said 76 was still nowhere near low enough.
Lower limits had been set in the past, when the sea lion population was much higher and reproductive rates were thought to be much greater.
"Our biggest concern is that those in charge of collecting the information about sea lion deaths, the Ministry of Fisheries and the fishing industry, are those with the least incentive to do so."
A more conservative approach should be taken and it should be up to the fishing industry to prove it was not catching or harming sea lions, he said.
"If the FRML were reduced each year, this would encourage the industry to make improvements and seek solutions, rather than delaying and stalling.
After all, no-one wants to catch sea lions, but only when there is enough political pressure will the status quo change."
