Re:New Zealand proposal to increase coral bycatch thresholds in South Pacific

A group of New Zealand NGOs has sent a letter to the Prime Minister, Rt Hon Christopher Luxon, to request the urgent withdrawal of the proposal COMM14-Prop07 Proposal to amend CMM 03 Bottom Fishing submitted by New Zealand to be considered at the upcoming South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (SPRFMO) meeting in Panama from 2-6 March 2026.

This proposal would increase the amount of coral and other vulnerable deep-sea species that can be trawled up as bycatch on the high seas without consequence. If adopted, it would reverse hard-won progress made by SPRFMO to prevent harm to sensitive deep-sea habitats and ecosystems.

Read the letter here.