New polling shows overwhelming support from New
Zealanders for a ban on bottom trawling in the South Pacific
high seas, says Greenpeace.
The Horizon polling,
commissioned at the end of 2025, reveals that 78% of New
Zealanders (representative of 3 million adults) want the ban
in the high seas area – where New Zealand is the last
country operating a bottom trawl fleet.
Juan Parada,
an Oceans Campaigner at Greenpeace Aotearoa, says the new
polling gives an undeniable mandate for action.
“There
is no social license for the industrial fishing companies
that profit from bulldozing ancient coral forests and wiping
out fragile ecosystems.” says Parada. “New Zealanders want
politicians to stop dragging their feet and protect the
oceans.”
“Other nations, including those who take part
in regional fisheries bodies in the South Pacific, have been
advocating for stronger rules against bottom trawlers, but
we see New Zealand consistently drag the chain. This polling
shows how out of step our government has become with other
nations and public sentiment.”
The New Zealand
government is heading to the 2026 commission meeting of the
South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation,
with an official position pushing to increase the amount of
coral that can be caught before the area must be
closed.
In response to questions on New Zealand’s
SPRFMO position in Parliament last week, Prime Minister
Luxon denied New Zealand was weakening the rules. Greenpeace
and allies have written to Luxon
asking that he withdraw New Zealand’s request for more
coral destruction.
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Other highlights of the Horizon
poll included overwhelming support (79%) for a South Pacific
ocean sanctuary – where all destructive activities are
outlawed to allow for ecosystem recovery.
The Lord
Howe Rise, South Tasman Sea region is being considered for
one of the world’s first global ocean sanctuaries under
the newly in force BBNJ agreement (Global Oceans
Treaty.)
Last year the Australian government helped
convene a science
symposium looking at the environmental and cultural
values of this area, helping to build the case for
protection.
“What we’re seeing internationally, and
here in New Zealand is that people want movement on ocean
protection,” says Parada.
“Everyone wants a thriving
ocean. The polling shows that whether you vote NZ First,
National, Labour, Greens, Te Pāti Māori – people want the
oceans better protected now. Internationally we’re seeing
nation states step up and try to move things
forward.”
Scientists recommend that at least 30% of
the global oceans be put in fully protected sanctuaries to
allow for recovery. Currently the amount of the global ocean
in fully protected areas is less than 3%.
“The public
understands the scale of the ocean crisis we face. They are
ready for bold action to end bottom trawling and create the
sanctuaries the ocean desperately needs. It’s time for the
Government to listen to the people and act before it’s too
late.”
Notes
- Polling
data - Lord
Howe Rise Symposium Report 2025 - 82% of
ACT voters support a ban on bottom trawling in the
South Pacific high seas, while 74% of National
voters and 73% of NZ First voters
are also in favour. - Support is near-universal among
the opposition parties with the Green Party voters
at 93%, Te Pāti Māori at 89%,
and Labour at 85%. - 74% of
respondents want the Government to pass stronger
laws to protect oceans and marine
biodiversity. - Support for establishing ocean
sanctuaries in the international waters of the Tasman, South
Pacific sits at 79%. - The poll also
shows that 83% of New Zealanders believe
the Government should ensure activity-monitoring cameras are
on all commercial fishing vessels operating
in New Zealand waters. Currently, the government’s rollout
is limited to only a portion of the
fleet.
