Greenpeace slams issuing of High Seas permit for Tasman Sea bottom trawler

The Tasman Viking, a bottom trawling vessel that pulled up protected coral in international waters two years ago, has been issued an international fishing permit by the New Zealand government this month, in a move environmentalists are calling outrageous.

Greenpeace oceans campaigner Ellie Hooper says the move to issue a permit is embarrassing, and flies in the face of widespread public opposition to bottom trawling in the Tasman Sea.

“New Zealand is now the only country bottom trawling out in the South Pacific high seas, including the ecologically diverse waters of the Tasman, and the public have made it abundantly clear they object to it. Polling shows that 78% of people want bottom trawling gone from this area and the majority are calling for more protection, not more trawling destruction.”

The Tasman Viking, owned by Westfleet, was convicted for dragging up deep sea coral in the Tasman and failing to report it properly in 2020. In 2024, the vessel also dragged up a further 37kg of coral from a biodiverse Lord Howe Rise seamount, triggering the temporary closure of the area.

“The decision to permit a bottom trawler with a recent history of non-compliance, and the cause of coral destruction less than two years ago, is egregious,” says Hooper.

“It’s well past time that New Zealand stopped permitting this ocean destruction out on the High Seas.”

Following the incident in 2024, Greenpeace carried out deep sea camera surveys of the seamount where the vessel pulled up coral. The surveys and subsequent scientific analysis revealed hundreds of corals, sponges and other deep sea lifeforms that qualify it as a vulnerable marine ecosystem. Some corals found on the site measured almost two metres in height, and many were estimated to be well over a century old.

“There is no question that we have evidence of vulnerable, ancient coral ecosystems in the High Seas of the Tasman. But if permits continue to be issued New Zealand bottom trawlers could destroy this precious life in the deep. We know what is there, how can trawlers still be permitted?”

Karli Thomas of the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition says protection for all seamounts in the High Seas is well overdue.

“New Zealand has been kicking the can down the road on this issue for far too long. As other countries have pushed for the protection of these vulnerable and important habitats – oases of life in the deep – New Zealand is the country that stands in the way, continuing to trawl on seamounts and blocking international efforts to protect them.

“New Zealanders are sick of the free rein given to bottom trawlers by a Minister that is wined, dined and donated to by industrial fishing companies. Trawling on seamounts is last-century ocean vandalism, and it’s got to stop.

“Along with our allies we are calling for all seamounts and features to be closed to destructive bottom trawling and for the New Zealand Government to protect the seamounts of the High Seas of the Tasman.”

Public opposition to bottom trawling continues to grow. Over 100,000 people have signed petitions calling for an end to bottom trawling on seamounts, and for the government to stop issuing international fishing permits to bottom trawlers. Tens of thousands got onside with Jono Ridler who swam the length of the North Island to draw attention to the need for a ban.

New Zealand bottom trawlers must apply for an International Fishing Permit issued by the Ministry for Primary Industries before being able to fish in the South Pacific High Seas. The Tasman Viking was issued a permit on June 12, and on June 22 turned off its location outside of Nelson.

“This vessel, with a history of bulldozing coral out in the biodiverse Tasman, could be out there right now causing more destruction. We are calling for this to stop,” says Hooper.