Fisheries Minister Pete Hodgson has closed the Auckland Islands squid fishery a month early, saying an unacceptable number of sea lions have been killed.
At least 79 sea lions have died in squid trawl nets this season, triggering the closure.
The fishery, which usually opened on February 1, will close from midday
tomorrow.
The industry said vessels were leaving the area immediately.
The fishery, which closed early in 2000, had been due to stay open until early May, depending on catch rates and sea lion kills.
The New Zealand sea lion, formerly known as hooker's sea lion, numbers about 13,000. It lives only in New Zealand waters.
Escape devices have been tested to see whether they expelled sea lions from nets.
The Fisheries Ministry did not have enough information to determine whether the devices had been effective, Mr Hodgson said.
The National-led Government imposed an annual limit of 65 sea lion deaths for the squid fishery in 1999.
Last year, the limit was lifted to 75 and 67 sea lions were killed.
- NZPA
nzherald.co.nz/environment
