Kiwi idea saving the world's fish

Love your fish and chips? Most Kiwis do – yet few realise that the standard fishing nets used here and around the world crush the fish to death as they’re winched in, meaning undersized fish or non-target species such as sharks (or even dolphins and seals) are thrown overboard dead.

However, this incredibly wasteful practice may now be at an end, thanks to a groundbreaking Kiwi invention called Precision Seafood Harvesting.

The technique centres around a radical new net design which features escape hatches for undersized fish, and doesn’t collapse around the target school and crush them, meaning fish are brought on board alive and can easily be thrown back to swim (and breed) another day.

As an added benefit the fish are in far better condition when they’re landed, and can command higher prices in quality-focused markets such as Japan.

TV presenter and fishing expert Matt Watson says the technology could have a big future, especially if licensed and sold overseas.

“I believe fishing in its current form is not sustainable. But this could be world-leading – it could help not just New Zealand fisheries, but the rest of the world’s.”

The nets have been developed by seafood companies Aotearoa Fisheries, Sanford and Sealord in conjunction with the New Zealand Government.

Click here to watch videos of the nets in action.