Frequently Asked Questions

Why is bottom trawling and scallop dredging so bad?

These fishing methods drag heavy equipment across the seafloor destroying structures and habitats important for finfish and other species to survive and thrive for kilometres per tow. These methods are responsible for killing juvenile fish, shellfish and species which aren’t even targeted. It is an indiscriminate industrial method of fishing designed purely to capture bulk fish at reduced cost. As fish become scarce the tows simply get longer thereby destroying more benthic environment. Fishing the same areas create corridors of wasteland.

What are the target species for bottom trawling in New Zealand/ Hauraki Gulf?

Bottom trawling targets fish species that live on or near the seafloor. 

In NZ, a wide range of fish are targeted by bottom trawling, with research showing inshore trawl gear targets around 32 species, with many additional species taken as bycatch.  

In the Hauraki Gulf, bottom trawling is banned from the inner Gulf. In the outer Gulf trawlers target snapper and john dory. High catches of red gurnard, trevally and tarakihi occur from bottom trawling in the Gulf.

What is Bottom Trawling?

Bottom trawling is a fishing method which involves dragging weighted nets across or in close proximity to the seafloor. Trawl nets range in size and can be as large as the wingspan of an aeroplane. 

Devices such as heavy steel trawl doors and ropes are attached to the nets. The trawl doors dig into the benthic environment as the nets are dragged along the seafloor. The trawl doors act like sheep dogs, herding fish into the path of the net so eventually the fish end up in the back of the net. 

The large nets used in bottom trawling collect everything herded by the trawl wake.

There are two kinds of bottom trawling - benthic and midwater. Benthic trawling occurs on the seafloor whereas midwater trawling occurs slightly above the seafloor.

Fish and other flora and fauna gathered in the trawl nets are then brought up to the surface to be processed. 

A bottom trawling episode can occur over several hours depending on the area fished and target species.

Why don’t we know recovery rates after no trawling?

It is unknown how long it would take for an area to recover from trawling because no one in New Zealand has deliberately stopped trawling and supported a research project on recovery rates.

What are the alternatives to trawling?

Alternatives to trawling include long lining and trapping. While these alternative methods may be more time consuming they generally deliver better quality fish which ought to attract a higher value return.