Pursuant to section 5 (5) of the Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978, and to a delegation from the Minister of Conservation, the Operations Manager, David Hayes, Department of Conservation notifies that they have received a permit application from The New Zealand King Salmon Co. Limited to take seals for the purpose of catching and releasing animals that have entered salmon pens.
Applicant
Applicant: The New Zealand King Salmon Co. Limited
Location of proposed activity: Malborough Sounds
Permission type: Marine Mammal Protection Act 1978
Summary of proposal: To catch and release and displace seals which have entered salmon pens. This application does not include killing or injuring animals.
Application documents:
How to make a submission
Any person or organisation may make a submission in writing to the Director-General on the proposal.
Submissions closed 11:59 pm, 16 December 2025.
Decision
On 20 May 2026, the decision-maker approved the application and granted a marine mammal permit for a term of 2 years commencing 1 June 2026.
Contact
If you have a question about the application or the submission process you can contact Marama Hotere, Permissions Advisor.