Sealion toll 84 despite early close to squid season

The final sealion death count from this year's squid fishing season stands at 84, five more than the maximum allowable.

Ministry of Fisheries senior fisheries management adviser Kim Drummond said the figure was an estimate based on the actual number of sealions caught in nets and from information given by ministry observers aboard squid trawlers.

Squid Fisheries Management Company chief executive Richard Cade said 23 sealions had been killed in trawl nets during the shortened season. The season was closed a month early because of the high sealion mortality rate.

New Zealand sealions, formerly known as Hooker's sealions, are listed as endangered and number about 13,000. They live only in New Zealand waters.

nzherald.co.nz/environment