\u201cThe decision to permit a bottom trawler with a recent history of non-compliance, and the cause of coral destruction less than two years ago, is egregious,\u201d says Hooper.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s well past time that New Zealand stopped permitting this ocean destruction out on the High Seas.\u201d<\/p>\n
Following the incident in 2024, Greenpeace carried out deep sea camera surveys of the seamount where the vessel pulled up coral. The surveys and subsequent scientific analysis revealed hundreds of corals, sponges and other deep sea lifeforms that qualify it as a vulnerable marine ecosystem<\/a>. Some corals found on the site measured almost two metres in height, and many were estimated to be well over a century old.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is no question that we have evidence of vulnerable, ancient coral ecosystems in the High Seas of the Tasman. But if permits continue to be issued New Zealand bottom trawlers could destroy this precious life in the deep. We know what is there, how can trawlers still be permitted?\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a9 Greenpeace \/ Roger Grace<\/p>\n Karli Thomas of the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition says protection for all seamounts in the High Seas is well overdue.<\/p>\n \u201cNew Zealand has been kicking the can down the road on this issue for far too long. As other countries have pushed for the protection of these vulnerable and important habitats \u2013 oases of life in the deep \u2013 New Zealand is the country that stands in the way, continuing to trawl on seamounts and blocking international efforts to protect them.<\/p>\n \u201cNew Zealanders are sick of the free rein given to bottom trawlers by a Minister that is wined, dined and donated to by industrial fishing companies. Trawling on seamounts is last-century ocean vandalism, and it\u2019s got to stop.<\/p>\n \u201cAlong with our allies we are calling for all seamounts and features to be closed to destructive bottom trawling and for the New Zealand Government to protect the seamounts of the High Seas of the Tasman.\u201d<\/p>\n Public opposition to bottom trawling continues to grow. Over 100,000 people have signed petitions calling for an end to bottom trawling on seamounts, and for the government to stop issuing international fishing permits to bottom trawlers. Tens of thousands got onside with Jono Ridler who swam the length of the North Island to draw attention to the need for a ban.<\/p>\n New Zealand bottom trawlers must apply for an International Fishing Permit issued by the Ministry for Primary Industries before being able to fish in the South Pacific High Seas. The Tasman Viking was issued a permit on June 12, and on June 22 turned off its location outside of Nelson.<\/p>\n \u201cThis vessel, with a history of bulldozing coral out in the biodiverse Tasman, could be out there right now causing more destruction. We are calling for this to stop,\u201d says Hooper.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t![\"Close](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/389795ff-gp0uqq_low-res-800px.jpg\" "\\"Trawling")
New Zealand-registered deep sea fishing trawler \u2018Tasman Viking\u2019 fishing in international waters 350 miles off the west coast of New Zealand in the Tasman Sea in 2004. Greenpeace along with more than a thousand scientists are supporting the call for a moratorium on high seas bottom trawling, because of the vast amount of marine life that is destroyed by this fishing method.<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"NZ](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/f96613f7-coralbottomtrawl-e1605642085312.jpg\" "\\"NZ")
<\/p>\n