New Zealand’s Jack Mackerel Fishery celebrates milestone year of zero bycatch for protected species

NEW ZEALAND – In a remarkable achievement for sustainable fishing practices, New Zealand’s Jack Mackerel Fishery (JMA7) has recorded a full year with zero bycatch of protected species, including seabirds, dolphins, and other marine mammals. 

The milestone, announced by industry body Seafood New Zealand, highlights a new benchmark in the country’s commitment to reducing unintended captures in its commercial fishing operations.

The JMA7 fishery, covering New Zealand’s largest jack mackerel fishing area, contributes significantly to the nation’s economy, with over NZ$66 million in export revenue. 

Achieving a zero bycatch year in this region reflects the collective efforts of fishers, vessel managers, and fishing companies dedicated to protecting marine wildlife.

Lisa Futschek, CEO of Seafood New Zealand, emphasised that this accomplishment resulted from years of hard work, cooperation, and adaptation. 

“It’s such good news, and it didn’t come easy. The people operating in this fishery have developed multiple measures over many years to prevent bycatch. They have worked together to understand what works and what doesn’t,” said Futschek. 

She noted that this outcome was supported by high rates of observer monitoring, which were crucial to developing and refining bycatch prevention strategies.

To prevent accidental captures, the JMA7 fishery employs a range of practices, focusing particularly on dolphins, which overlap most with Jack Mackerel fishing activities. 

Among these practices are audio devices designed to deter dolphins, limiting nighttime fishing during high-risk periods, and avoiding shallow-depth fishing during the new moon phase when risks are elevated. 

Crews also receive annual briefings from Deepwater Environmental Liaison Officers, participate in reviews of capture events, and maintain open communication among skippers, enabling swift notifications across the fleet if a capture does occur.

The collaborative approach among the three main fishing companies involved—Sealord, Independent Fisheries Limited, and Maruha—has been essential to the fishery’s success. Tim Law, General Manager of Operations at Maruha, praised the crews and vessel managers for their dedication. 

“The vessel managers and crew should also be commended for adopting new practices, equipment, and abiding by the operating procedures, treating them like the Ten Commandments,” he noted, acknowledging the disruptions these new methods initially posed to crews who fully embraced the practices in pursuit of bycatch reduction.

Despite the success, Futschek acknowledged that challenges remain. “We know there will always be more work to do. Even in this fishery, with all the effort put in, we may not get a zero result next year,” she admitted, noting that each fishery in New Zealand operates under unique conditions. 

However, Futschek sees the JMA7 fishery’s success as a model for sustainable fishing, underscoring the importance of collaboration, skilled skippers, dedicated crews, and industry-led initiatives.

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