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Story: Law of the sea

Sunfish in a drift net

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Sunfish in a drift net

One of the most wasteful fishing practices is drift netting. A vast net with a fine mesh is cast over several kilometres of ocean, catching any marine creatures in its path, including rare species such as this sunfish. New Zealand has taken a lead in international moves to stop drift netting.

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Greenpeace International

by Roger Grace

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How to cite this page

Bill Mansfield, Law of the sea – Protecting the oceans, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/6975/sunfish-in-a-drift-net (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Bill Mansfield, published 2 March 2009.