Massive Coral Haul Sparks Outrage in New Zealand

Six Tonnes of Protected Coral Found in Trawl Net Off New Zealand Coast A significant environmental incident occurred off the east coast of New Zealand, where a bottom trawling vessel accidentally caught six tonnes of protected stony coral. The images, released under the Official Information Act, show a large amount of coral in the net. Seafood New Zealand CEO Lisa Futschek stated that it was a "highly regrettable" mistake, attributing it to human error. However, Karli Thomas of the Deepsea Ocean Conservation Coalition described the situation as "devastating" and questioned the industry's claim that such large-scale bycatch is rare. The incident highlights the ongoing debate surrounding the environmental impact of bottom trawling and the need for stricter regulations to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems. The large amount of coral caught raises serious concerns about the long-term health of New Zealand's ocean environment. Further investigations are underway to determine the full extent of the damage and prevent future occurrences.