Environmentalists say they have groundbreaking “proof” of ancient and extensive coral systems on the Lord Howe Rise seafloor in the South Pacific where New Zealand vessels are dragging bottom trawling fishing nets.
Greenpeace says scientific analysis of video footage taken at the underwater plateau west of New Zealand identified 350 different corals and sponges – some of which are estimated to be more than 100 years old.
The group says the research is a gamechanger because such a survey hasn’t been done before, and the findings should dictate that bottom trawling is stopped permanently in the area.
Bottom trawling was suspended in part of the Lord Howe Rise in 2024 after a trawler pulled up protected gorgonian coral, but the pause on fishing is now up with international regulators set to decide whether it can resume.
Greenpeace oceans campaigner Ellie Hopper said analysis of the footage provided first-of-its-kind evidence of the vulnerability of the area.
“It’s proof that there is a vulnerable marine system out there on the Lord Howe Rise and we’ve never had proof of that before,” she told the Herald.
The findings, which will be presented at the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management (SPRFMO) meeting in Panama City this week, will clash with the position of New Zealand Government officials who are proposing to relax the rules for trawl boats that haul up coral while fishing.
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones dismissed the significance of the Greenpeace research.
“Virtually nothing Greenpeace says or does will ever sway the way I approach New Zealand fisheries policy,” he told the Herald.
Marine scientist Kat Goddard, who was part of the team that conducted the research, said the findings are unique because the video footage provides “direct observations” of vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) in a place where trawl vessels operate.
“There is no uncertainty. [The research is] first of its kind. SPRFMO has never had this data before,” she told the Herald.
She said the research relied on peer-reviewed methodology and 45% of the images analysed contained VMEs in line with internationally accepted criteria.
“Under SPRFMO’s own measures, this means once identified, these areas should be closed.”
Deep-sea corals are often considered architects of ocean life because they create habitats for thousands of other species.
While Greenpeace is putting up its research in an attempt to end bottom trawling at Lord Howe Rise, Jones told the Herald that he has directed the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to argue for the opposite.
In fact, he’s asked MPI officials to propose to SPFRMO members that trawlers be allowed to land more than double the amount of coral they’re currently permitted to.
“I absolutely asked MPI officials to seek to increase the threshold for coral catch because in my view, it is far too low at present,” he said.
Current international rules mean that if a trawl vessel accidentally lands coral in international waters, and the weight exceeds 15kg, fishing must stop.
In 2024, Nelson-based trawler Tasman Viking caught coral weighing 37kg in Lord Howe Rise, which triggered a suspension to fishing in the area.
At the time, Jones told the Herald “I wouldn’t fuss about” it, before saying SPRFMO is an organisation that “doesn’t suit New Zealand’s interests”.
The New Zealand Government proposal, which will be tabled in Panama this week, argues that given New Zealand only has up to two vessels catching a few hundred tonnes of fish in SPRFMO areas, the risk to vulnerable marine ecosystems is low.
“The benefit of raising the thresholds is to potentially reduce the compliance burden and uncertainty for industry,” the proposal states.
Greenpeace’s video was filmed last year when the organisation chartered a vessel and towed cameras above the seafloor in areas where New Zealand trawlers operate.
Goddard said one of the lines where cameras were towed was only a few hundred metres from where the Tasman Viking was trawling when it hit coral.
During the deep-sea expedition, lasers were used to assess the size of coral and sponges spotted.
“We determined there were multiple taxon groups that had individuals over 100 years old, some even likely over 200 years old. Ageing these ancient animals simply reinforces how special the area is,” she said.
New Zealand is the only country still bottom trawling in the South Pacific high seas. While Australia holds a permit to trawl for orange roughy, it ceased all activity years ago.
Hooper described New Zealand’s position – and that of the ministers – as “really problematic”.
“It’s really siding with commercial fishing rather than looking after ocean health, which is the exact opposite of the direction that we should be travelling in.”
Jones didn’t back away from the assertion that he is acting to support commercial fishing fleets.
“As the Oceans and Fisheries Minister, it is my job to ensure New Zealand’s rights as a fishing nation are upheld and promoted, including at an international level. Fishing is a backbone primary industry in New Zealand and as long as I am the minister, that will not change,” he said.
A spokeswoman for Seafood New Zealand noted only 1% of the South Pacific high seas is open for bottom trawling, with the rest being off limits.
“That’s an important fact that often gets lost in this debate,” she said.
She said the Greenpeace submission is not a peer-reviewed scientific paper and is yet to be assessed by SPRFMO’s scientific committee.
Michael Morrah is a senior investigative reporter/team leader at the Herald. He won News Journalist of the Year at the 2025 Voyager Media Awards and has twice been named reporter of the year at the NZ Television Awards. He has been a broadcast journalist for 20 years and joined the Herald’s video team in July 2024.