Shane Jones, the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries of New Zealand, who is based in Northland/Te Tai Tokerau has declared that the essential Fishing Related Mortality Limit (FRML) of 52 New Zealand sea lions/pakake per year is being scrapped. The FRML is the annual limitation on pakake that can be caught and killed by fisheries in the Subantarctic Islands, where the majority of pakake live.
“We’ve got bigger things to worry about. There’s probably more sea lions being predated upon by killer whales than politicians”, posted Shane Jones.
It appears Shane Jones knows nothing about pakake, and their decades-long plight. Allow me to cut through the misinformation and educate you on this magnificent species.
Prehuman colonisation, pakake resided across New Zealand/Aotearoa – from Te Tai Tokerau to Stewart Island/Rakiura. Due to Māori subsistence hunting and Sealing, pakake were wiped out across mainland Aotearoa. A small population fled and established themselves in the Subantarctic Islands. In 1993 (a mere 31 years ago), a cow, lovingly named ‘Mum’ was discovered at Taieri Mouth in Dunedin NZ and gave birth to the first pup ‘Katja’ born on mainland Aotearoa in over 150 years!
Today, there are approximately only 500 pakake on mainland Aotearoa and they are found on the south-east coast and Rakiura. In total, there are approximately 12,000 pakake. They are classified as ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
In 2022/23, there was a record 24% decline in pup births in the Subantarctic Islands. This could be attributed to starvation, due to competition for food with fisheries in the Subantarctic Islands; which forces cows to dive to depths of 600 metres for squid, exceeding their calculated aerobic dive limit (cADL).
In addition to direct (bycatch) and indirect (starvation) threats from fisheries, pakake are under threat from disease, predation, dog attacks, and human interference – including vehicular collisions and deliberate killings.
Join me, stand up and speak up for pakake.
Photo: Pakake pup named Tāne, by Sian Mair. Taken while on assignment from a safe distance.