Sharks in Aotearoa, like New Zealand sea lions/pakake are misunderstood, and are under threat. Recently released reports written by Government observers on longline fishing vessels between 2016 and 2021, reported “brutal” and “needless” killing of blue sharks on surface longline fishing boats. Under current fisheries rules, blue sharks can be put back dead or alive. On another trip, the skipper reportedly told his crew: “He was given the quota and told to use it by killing as many blue sharks as possible to reduce their population size.” Another report stated, “Crew have been hauling some smaller ones onboard to retrieve the hooks. The handling of these sharks is brutal as they stand on them and cut the jaws through to the gills and guts at times to get the hooks back then discard the dying body. No effort is made to kill them first.” Dr. Riley Elliott – Shark Scientist says, “Pretty sure it’s against animal welfare to bring a shark on board and chop its face open to get a $1 hook back – and ecologically a shark is worth far more than $1.” Blue sharks (Prionace glauca) are classified as ‘Near Threatened’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Please sign Only One’s petition calling upon the government to protect sharks from being carelessly killed: https://only.one/act/nz-sharks. Click to access the reports: https://www.forestandbird.org.nz/resources/sharks-subject-brutal-and-needless-killing-official-reports-reveal.
Photo: Shawn Heinrichs.