The New Zealand government issued an international fishing permit on June 12 to the Tasman Viking, a bottom trawling vessel owned by Westfleet that has a history of destroying protected deep-sea coral. According to Greenpeace, this decision allows a vessel previously convicted of non-compliance to return to the South Pacific high seas, where it may threaten vulnerable marine ecosystems.
Why is the Tasman Viking permit controversial?
The controversy stems from the vessel’s record of environmental damage. In 2020, the Tasman Viking was convicted for dragging up deep-sea coral in the Tasman Sea and failing to report the incident properly. By 2024, the vessel dragged up an additional 37kg of coral from a seamount in the Lord Howe Rise, which forced a temporary closure of the area.
Greenpeace oceans campaigner Ellie Hooper described the decision to permit a vessel with this history as “egregious.” Hooper notes that New Zealand is currently the only country bottom trawling in the South Pacific high seas, including the Tasman’s ecologically diverse waters.
What are the environmental risks of bottom trawling on seamounts?
Bottom trawling involves dragging heavy nets across the ocean floor, which can obliterate ancient ecosystems. According to the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition, seamounts act as “oases of life in the deep.” When trawlers operate in these areas, they destroy sponges and corals that qualify as vulnerable marine ecosystems.
Karli Thomas of the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition argues that New Zealand has “blocked international efforts” to protect these habitats. The practice is characterized by Thomas as “last-century ocean vandalism” that continues despite growing global momentum toward seamount protection.
How does public opinion contrast with government policy?
There is a significant gap between New Zealand’s official fishing permits and public sentiment. According to polling cited by Ellie Hooper, 78% of people want bottom trawling removed from the Tasman Sea area.
Public pressure has manifested in several ways:
- Over 100,000 signatures on petitions demanding an end to seamount trawling.
- A high-profile swim across the North Island by Jono Ridler to advocate for a ban.
- Support from more than 1,000 scientists calling for a moratorium on high seas bottom trawling.
What happens next for High Seas regulation?
The future of these waters depends on whether the Ministry for Primary Industries continues to issue International Fishing Permits to vessels with histories of non-compliance. Environmental groups are currently pushing for a total closure of all seamounts and deep-sea features to destructive fishing methods.
The conflict highlights a tension between industrial fishing interests—which Karli Thomas claims have significant influence over the Minister—and the scientific evidence of vulnerable marine ecosystems that require permanent protection to survive.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a seamount?
A seamount is an underwater mountain that rises from the ocean floor.
Who issues fishing permits for New Zealand vessels in international waters?
The Ministry for Primary Industries is the agency responsible for issuing International Fishing Permits for New Zealand-registered vessels.
Why is deep-sea coral important?
These corals provide essential habitats for other marine life and, as seen in the Tasman Sea, can live for over a century, making them irreplaceable once destroyed.
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