Surface longline - Shark bycatch
Issue
Some species of sharks (Blue, Mako, Porbeagle) are caught as an unwanted bycatch of surface longlining for tuna and swordfish. .
Risk
There is little or no targeted fishing for many shark species in New Zealand.
Extent of the issue
Shark species such as Blue, Mako, Porbeagle are the focus of international interest, particularly in relation to the practice of shark finning (removing the fins off live sharks and discarding the carcass).
Trends
Current management
In New Zealand, shark finning practice is managed through the following controls: overall catch limits on the quantity of sharks that can be taken; provisions for the live release of sharks that are likely to survive; and Animal Welfare Act provisions that make it an offence to remove the fins from a live shark
