Campaign launched to help sea lions

Sea lions. Photo / Jim Eagles

An online campaign to make submissions on proposed changes to fishing management regulations regarding sea lions, which the Green Party fears threaten the existence of the species, was launched on a beach on the Otago Peninsula yesterday.

Green Party oceans spokesman Gareth Hughes said New Zealand sea lions were the most threatened in the world and nothing that would put them at further risk should be allowed.

Under the Ministry of Fisheries proposal, squid fishery crews would have to use nets fitted with sea lion exclusion devices.

The devices were meant to provide sea lions with an escape route from a net, but some research had questioned their effectiveness, Mr Hughes said.