Thursday, 23 June 2005
Baldock applauds Japan's whaling defeat
United Future conservation spokesman Larry Baldock today applauded the defeat of Japan's attempt to overturn the
commercial ban on whaling at the International Whaling Commission meeting in South Korea.
"It is clear whales are beautiful creatures and New Zealand benefits enormously from whale-watching activities," he
said.
"It has been vitally important to take the conservation measures that have been taken in recent years to ensure that
whales do not continue to be threatened species and we applaud those nations that have voted responsibly at the IWC.
"There is, however, a need for the Conservation Minister, Chris Carter, to have a reality check when he accuses Japan of
inhumanity because of their whaling activities.
"He would do well to turn his attention back to New Zealand and review the confiscation of the inshore marine area being
undertaken to pursue DOC's marine reserve obsession.
"New Zealanders are conservation-minded, but they like to be engaged in a respectful consultation process, not the kind
of confiscation tactics he is currently employing," Mr Baldock said.
ENDS