The swan hunt on Tauranga Harbour on Sunday has been labelled unsuccessful by Fish & Game Eastern Region.

Approximately 200 birds were killed in the hunt, which took place after 1pm on Sunday, a significant drop from the 1000 birds killed in previous hunts.

About 200 birds were killed in the swan hunt on Tauranga Harbour on Sunday. Photo: Grant McFarlane.

Spokesperson for Western Bay Fish and Game Club Alistair Wells says it was 'a great day” but they did not get the numbers they were hoping for.

'It was down on the numbers that we have had in the past.

Alistair says the swans were flying high and fast; the weather wasn't great.

'But we had a good day.”

The controversial swan hunt divided the region at the weekend – with some people saying it is necessary and others calling the event 'inhumane and cruel”.

But Fish & Game Eastern Region are in support of the hunt and say there are strong environmental and public safety factors which make a case for reducing the black swan numbers currently residing on Tauranga Harbour.

Alistair says it is something that needs to be done and 'if they cause a nuisance somewhere else we'll go there too”.

'You've got to remember this is a sporting shoot. We're all Fish & Game licensed game bird hunters.”

Eastern Region manager Rob Pitkethley says they have a responsibility to keep populations to a manageable size so they do not have a detrimental effect on other natural resources or users of the harbour.

'We acknowledge that some people are uncomfortable with these hunts, but we have a responsibility to act on the concerns of harbour-side property owners and public users, farmers whose crops are damaged, and airport officials who at times have voiced concern that the birds pose a threat to air traffic safety.

Comments from SunLive's Facebook page show residents are divided in their opinion of the hunt.

Gill Wilson says 'definitely no, they are beautiful”.

Amanda Ward says 'if numbers need to be controlled there are far more humane ways of doing so”.

Michelle Hulbert says the hunters are 'sickos” and it is not ok.

Other people agree with the hunt saying the swan numbers are out of control.

Kym Raubenheimer says it was not until she took a helicopter ride over the harbour that she realised there are too many.

'They are not natural to the environment.”

Andy Pattern says people should talk to farmers about what the swans do to their farms.

Over the past 10 years, the black swan population in the Bay of Plenty has been increasing.

Tauranga Airport has at times raised concerns regarding the number of swan near the runway.