When Commercial fishing boats trawl the oceans, their huge nets capture everything. This means animals like dolphins, seals, sharks, and whales get caught in these nets. Instead of setting these animals free, many boats kill them and throw them back to the ocean. This is wrong. 

The commercial fishing industry has shown it can’t be trusted to self-monitor. From fish dumping to the killing of native dolphins, seabirds, and seals, I believe it’s clear we need cameras on boats to protect the biodiversity of the oceans.

‘Bycatch’ is defined as marine animals caught accidentally in nets and on hooks while people are fishing. Bycatch is causing one animal death every 2 minutes and is the single largest cause of death for some of NZ’s favourite ocean inhabitants. 

Over 300,000 small whales, dolphins, and porpoises die from entanglement in nets each year in New Zealand.

At the moment, the law for having cameras on fishing boats in New Zealand is advised but optional, I want to make this policy compulsory. I am calling for New Zealand Government to commit to implementing cameras on the whole commercial fishing fleet by the end of their term in 2023. 

I want to make it compulsory because I believe that commercial fishing companies in New Zealand are hiding the mistakes they make. Mistakes that involve the death of marine animals are serious and they need to be held accountable for this. Cameras on fishing boats would ensure accountability of actions and hopefully, make people feel as though they are being watched so they are more likely to complete safe fishing practices. 

Please sign this petition to help me help these incredible animals who don't have a voice of their own.