Hundreds gather to demand end to bottom trawling in Hauraki Gulf

Hundreds of people gathered on Waiheke Island today to call for an end to bottom trawling in the Hauraki Gulf.

The conservation organisation Forest & Bird said the fishing method was contributing to the gulf's ecological decline.

More than 80 percent of people living around the gulf want it to be banned, according to national conservation advocate Bianca Ranson. She said the event, which was held on Oneroa Beach, reflected their frustration at the continued decline of the gulf.

"Bottom trawling is widely recognised as one of the most damaging fishing methods, dragging heavy nets across the seabed and destroying vital habitats that are slow to recover," she said.

"There is no future for sustainable fisheries without ending destructive fishing practices and transitioning to methods that can sustain our ocean's life, long term".

Ranson said it had become an election issue, with Forest & Bird calling on all politicians to listen to the vast majority of New Zealanders who want a living, thriving gulf.

"Overfishing, sedimentation, pollution, and climate impacts, combined with bottom trawling, are pushing species towards local extinction. We need strong action to restore the gulf."

Ranson hoped that the turnout had shown political parties how much support there was for stronger protection of the ocean.

"The people are on the side, and we just need the political will to make this a reality.

"The Hauraki Gulf is a microcosm for the rest of Aotearoa. If we can get this issue right in the gulf, and that's commitment to ending trawling, that starts with a phase-out and moving away from bottom-impact fishing, which destroys the benthic habitat and seafloor, and moving towards new technology, which is already available, and making sure that industry is brought along so that we can end trawling, but also have sustainable fisheries."

The event also included the unveiling of New Zealand's largest-ever Ban Bottom Trawling banner, measuring 15 by nine metres.

"It took many, many of us to unfurl it. And then we walked it out into the ocean, where we were surrounded by people on waka ama and kayaks who were also holding Ban Bottom Trawling signs. And then all of the boats in the bay behind us. So, yeah, just a really powerful kind of visual statement of the message from the people, not only here on Waiheke, but people who have sailed over here to be here with us today and people who have come over on the ferry.

"So the message could never be clearer with this banner, but also the voice of over 80 percent of people who live around the Gulf who want to see this destructive fishing method banned. So we hope that all politicians can see that loud and clear with the photos that we'll be sending through to you. And, yeah, let's get on with it.

"Our future generations are depending on this, and also the well-being of our ocean, with all of the pressures that it's facing at the moment."

As well as the hundreds at the event, there were thousands of people who had already backed public petitions calling on the Government to ban bottom trawling in the Hauraki Gulf, Ranson added.