Greenpeace oceans campaigner Ellie Hopper said analysis of the footage provided first-of-its-kind evidence of the vulnerability of the area.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s proof that there is a vulnerable marine system out there on the Lord Howe Rise and we\u2019ve never had proof of that before,\u201d she told the Herald.<\/p>\n
Greenpeace oceans campaigner Ellie Hooper was part of a team that surveyed the seafloor at Lord Howe Rise.<\/p>\n
The findings, which will be presented at the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management (SPRFMO) meeting in Panama City this week, will clash with the position of New Zealand Government officials who are proposing to relax the rules for trawl boats that haul up coral while fishing.<\/p>\n
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones dismissed the significance of the Greenpeace research.<\/p>\n
\u201cVirtually nothing Greenpeace says or does will ever sway the way I approach New Zealand fisheries policy,\u201d he told the Herald.<\/p>\n
Deep-sea corals are often considered architects of ocean life because they create habitats for thousands of other species.<\/p>\n
Oceans & Fisheries Minister Shane Jones directed MPI officials to propose increasing coral catch thresholds for commercial trawl vessels. Photo \/ Mike Scott.<\/p>\n
While Greenpeace is putting up its research in an attempt to end bottom trawling at Lord Howe Rise, Jones told the Herald that he has directed the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to argue for the opposite.<\/p>\n
In fact, he\u2019s asked MPI officials to propose to SPFRMO members that trawlers be allowed to land more than double the amount of coral they\u2019re currently permitted to.<\/p>\n
\u201cI absolutely asked MPI officials to seek to increase the threshold for coral catch because in my view, it is far too low at present,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Current international rules mean that if a trawl vessel accidentally lands coral in international waters, and the weight exceeds 15kg, fishing must stop.<\/p>\n
In 2024, Nelson-based trawler Tasman Viking caught coral weighing 37kg<\/a> in Lord Howe Rise, which triggered a suspension to fishing in the area.<\/p>\n At the time, Jones told the Herald \u201cI wouldn\u2019t fuss about\u201d it, before saying SPRFMO is an organisation that \u201cdoesn\u2019t suit New Zealand\u2019s interests\u201d.<\/p>\n The New Zealand Government proposal, which will be tabled in Panama this week, argues that given New Zealand only has up to two vessels catching a few hundred tonnes of fish in SPRFMO areas, the risk to vulnerable marine ecosystems is low.<\/p>\n \u201cThe benefit of raising the thresholds is to potentially reduce the compliance burden and uncertainty for industry,\u201d the proposal states.<\/p>\n New Zealand\u2019s position \u2018really problematic\u2019<\/p>\n Greenpeace\u2019s video was filmed last year when the organisation chartered a vessel and towed cameras above the seafloor<\/a> in areas where New Zealand trawlers operate.<\/p>\n During the deep-sea expedition, lasers were used to assess the size of coral and sponges spotted.<\/p>\nLasers were used to estimate the height of coral filmed at the Lord Howe Rise. Photo \/ Greenpeace<\/p>\n
Analysis of video taken of the seafloor at Lord Howe Rise identified 350 corals and sponges some of which were estimated to be more than 100 years old. Photo \/ Greenpeace<\/p>\n