Set net fishing is killing a lot more than just the endangered Hector's dolphins.

The Ministry of Fisheries has released the results of its observer programme, which involves independent observers spending time on set net and inshore trawl vessel to count accidental deaths of other creatures.

Forest and Bird spokeswoman Kirstie Knowles says the results of the two month exercise show more protected species than previously thought are getting caught in set nets. The species include 24 albatrosses, 32 shags and five endangered yellow-eyed penguins, plus nine common dolphins, three fur seals and one great white shark. Some of the species have never been recorded killed in these fisheries before.

Last year, the Government introduced set net restrictions to protect Hector's dolphins and critically endangered Maui's dolphins but Ms Knowles says the restrictions on set net fishing should be extended further off shore. Forest and Bird wants a nationwide ban on set nets because it is an indiscriminate fishing method.