Rare orca deaths in set-nets trigger urgent fisheries review

Thursday, 18 June 2026

Oceans and fisheries minister Shane Jones has ordered a rapid investigation into rare accidental captures of orca in commercial fishing nets.

Two incidents in May - believed to be the first recorded deaths of the species in set-nets in New Zealand waters - left officials scrambling for answers.

Appearing before Parliament's Primary Production Committee on Thursday, Jones revealed he directed fisheries officials to work with industry, Department of Conservation staff, and overseas experts to identify ways to reduce the risk of further harm to orca.

“Last month, two fishers in different parts of the country reported the accidental capture of orca,” Jones said in a statement to The Post. “Action is under way to understand the circumstances of these incidents, as well as what could be done to prevent any recurrence.”

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The incidents occurred off the Kaikōura coast and near Gisborne, involving different vessels, different depths, and different target species. The details were not released.

Officials say there is no obvious operational pattern linking the two events.

Because of the animals’ size, neither carcass could be recovered, limiting the ability to conduct post-mortems or confirm further biological detail.

New Zealand’s orca population is classified as Nationally Critical under an official Threat Classification System. Only an estimated 150 to 200 individuals are thought to remain in the coastal population.

Orca interactions with fishing gear remain rare in New Zealand waters.

Since 2012, there have been 12 recorded incidents involving commercial fisheries, including one fatal entanglement in a rock lobster pot line and another case involving a deepwater trawl net in which the animal was likely already dead when retrieved.

Officials say whale interactions overall occur at a low rate - around four to five entanglements a year - with most resulting in live release.

But the orca cases are considered significant because of the species’ low numbers and slow reproductive rate.

DOC is now working alongside fisheries authorities and industry representatives to share data from onboard cameras and compare mitigation strategies used in other countries, where approaches to reducing marine mammal bycatch vary in effectiveness.

“Given the limited experience we have with orca bycatch in New Zealand, international advice and insight will be crucial,” Jones said.

Officials have also confirmed that both vessels involved were operating onboard camera systems at the time of the incidents, providing some visual record of what occurred.

Jones has defended the fishers involved, saying they acted appropriately by reporting the captures immediately.

“There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by those involved,” he said.