The skipper of a commercial fishing boat who killed 39 albatrosses while trawling for southern bluefin tuna off the West Coast earlier this year, may have cost his employer his boat. The court heard that fishing boat crews were required to use streamlines when setting longlines, as a way to scare off seabirds scavenging for fish. Between April 8 and 25, Smyth made two separate fishing trips targeting bluefin tuna off the West Coast. The species of seabirds killed were 24 pacific or buller albatross, 14 white-capped albatross and one wandering albatross. Judge Jane Farish said no conviction would be entered until the issue of forfeiture had been considered.

Source: Otago Daily Times October 04, 2016 02:03 UTC