Forest and Bird has called for the squid fishing industry to use more sustainable methods, following the death of a second endangered New Zealand sea lion.

Two New Zealand sea lions, which the independent conservation agency says are one of the world’s rarest, have been killed recently south of New Zealand.

Both died in fishing nets in the first five weeks of the squid fishing season.

Forest and Bird has called on the industry to use hooks rather than nets, if companies want to continue fishing in the same sub-Antarctic waters where the sea lions feed.