The government’s controversial Fisheries Amendment Bill has reignited debate over New Zealand’s most common – and most controversial – commercial fishing method.

Bottom trawling involves commercial fishing boats dragging large, heavy nets across the seafloor. It is the most widespread source of human disturbance to the global seabed. Around New Zealand, marine scientists have documented its ecological impacts for decades.

Although the bill covers a broad range of fisheries management changes, debate has centred on whether it would weaken environmental safeguards that influence how activities such as bottom trawling are managed.

After an earlier U-turn on one significant proposal, Fisheries Minister Shane Jones last month delayed the legislation until after the general election. But many of its more contentious reforms remain on the table and could return under the next parliament.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has argued the environmental impacts of bottom trawling need to be balanced against its economic benefits.

The commercial fishing industry employs thousands of people and generates around NZ$2 billion in export earnings each year. It is an important export industry, even if smaller than sectors such as international education and comparable in size to wine exports.

Still, our research in the marine environment suggests any balance should place greater weight on protecting marine biodiversity and the ecosystem processes that support ocean........

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