Wellington, March 13 - The Government's decision only to reduce the accidental by-catch of New Zealand sea lions in the Auckland Island squid fishery amounts to ``kicking the species while it is down'', environmentalists say.
Greenpeace said the decision showed the Government clearly did not care about New Zealand's threatened wildlife.
The present limit of 79 sea lion deaths resulting from the squid fishery would be cut to 63, Fisheries Minister John Luxton and Conservation Minister Nick Smith said yesterday.
The move comes after the unexplained mass deaths of sea lions on the Auckland Islands and takes the middle ground of an argument between the fishing industry and conservation groups.
``The fishing industry wants to see the current squid fishing accidental by-catch limit stay the same. It argues that mortality (through fishing) is low in comparison to the number killed by the mystery illness as to be insignificant,'' the ministers said in a statement.
``Conservation groups want the fishery closed. They argue that the mystery disease highlights how fragile the population of sea lions is.
``As ministers, we have taken the middle road and kept with the scientific approach previously calculated, using the most recent available data on the sea lion population.''
The ministers said their decision had been difficult because the cause of the sea lion deaths was unknown and the level of fatalities among the adult population was no more than a crude estimate.
The decision was made on the basis of the best estimate of independent scientists, but would have to be revised again next season when better information became available.
Greenpeace oceans campaigner Cristina Mormorunni said coming after the deaths of around 2000 sea lions from a population that might be as low as 10,000, the decision amounted to kicking the species while it was down.
``The only ecologically responsible measure is to extend the existing 20km marine mammal sanctuary around the Auckland Islands out to 100km to prevent the deadly interaction between sea lions and trawl nets altogether.''
The ministers said they would convene an early meeting with industry and environment groups and other stakeholders to discuss the decision and its implications.
``It is important that a process be implemented so that, if necessary, the squid fishery around the Auckland Islands can be closed if the new maximum limit on sea lion deaths is breached,'' the ministers said.