Fishing
The way we fish cannot continue. Industrial scale commercial fishing has left parts of our oceans a barren wasteland, where once life thrived. Currently, less than one percent of our global oceans are set aside as ocean sanctuaries, making it all too easy for the fishing industry to exploit their resources. Overfishing and destructive, wasteful fishing practices are threatening the health of our oceans and food security for communities everywhere. Bottom trawling – commonly known as the most destructive fishing method around – is turning biodiverse hotspots to rock and rubble.
Things you can do
We want you to take action because together we’re strong.
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GreenpeacePETITION: Make cameras on boats footage public
Sign the petition for camera footage on boats to be publicly accessible & keep the fishing industry accountable.
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GreenpeaceSEND A MESSAGE: Tell political leaders to ban bottom trawling
Tell political leaders to commit to a ban on bottom trawling in sensitive habitats before the 2026 election.
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GreenpeaceBan Bottom Trawling on Seamounts
At home and far out to sea, our oceans are being plundered for profit by the fishing industry through bottom trawling. But what is bottom trawling and why is it so destructive to ocean habitats?
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Open Letter for Oceans Protection
Imagine a future where the ocean thrives. Where endangered species have been brought back from the brink, and families can catch a feed.
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GreenpeaceStop Ghost Fishing Gear
Ghost fishing gear is wreaking havoc on our oceans. Discarded nets, ropes and other fishing waste makes up 10% of the total plastic pollution in the ocean, but as yet – nothing is being done to stop it at the source.
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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 in a move environmentalists are calling outrageous.
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Jones fails to force through Fisheries Amendment Bill before election, following public backlash
News that progress on the Fisheries Amendment Bill will be delayed until after the election is being called a win for People Power by environmental groups, who say it proves how united the New Zealand public is against destructive fishing.
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Seamount closures for world’s largest orange roughy fishery as population plummets
The New Zealand Government has announced temporary seamount closures in the world’s largest orange roughy fishery, following news that deep sea fish numbers are plummeting. The closures, set for six weeks, will mean that several seamounts will be off limits to bottom trawling. But environmentalists say the closures don’t go far enough.
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Vision versus reality – thousands of protected animals killed in one year of trawling
Greenpeace Aotearoa is renewing its call for urgent action on bottom trawling after data from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) shows another deadly year for New Zealand’s marine life.
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Abundance over Greed – in 2026 ocean protection is an election issue
It is exciting to see the health of the ocean rise on the political agenda during a general election year. People care and are forcing politicians to listen – which gives us a real opportunity to push for meaningful change. Here’s what that looks like.
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Empty promises from National-led govt as ‘ocean exploitation bill’ voted through
Greenpeace is slamming the decision by the coalition government today to vote through the Fisheries Amendment Bill, in the wake of mass public outcry against the legislation.
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Rotten to the core – ‘ocean exploitation bill’ must be rejected, says Greenpeace
Greenpeace says the coalition government’s removal of one item in NZ First’s ‘ocean exploitation bill’ is not enough to satisfy public outcry, with the organisation calling for the bill to be rejected in its entirety.
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Worst in a generation, environmentalists slam Fisheries Amendment Bill
The Fisheries Amendment Bill, which will likely have its first reading in parliament this week, is being labelled the worst fisheries policies in a generation by environmental groups who are…
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Sold to the highest trawler: Shane Jones hands NZ oceans over to Big Fish – National silent
Sweeping amendments proposed under the Fisheries Amendment Bill sign the ocean over to corporate fishing companies, incentivising trawling, and silencing New Zealanders right to have a say. But perhaps someone should remind National that their voters don’t support ocean destruction.