15 September 2008
Oceans in crisis: fishing lobby litigates
The fishing industry's obstinate opposition to recent protections for the critically endangered Maui's dolphin shows how
essential it is to strengthen New Zealand's fisheries and marine protection laws, the Green Party says.
The Federation of Commercial Fishermen is taking court action to overturn fishing restrictions designed to save the
critically endangered Maui's dolphin from extinction.
"The determination of some sectors of the fishing industry to exploit fish stocks until there is nothing left, and to
destroy iconic and precious marine mammals and seabirds, shows how urgent it is that relevant legislation be amended so
the environment is not pitted against the economy," Green Party Conservation Spokesperson Metiria Turei says.
"The fishing lobby is not in the least bit interested in supporting a sustainable fishery or protecting marine species -
even the world's smallest dolphin - from extinction,"
"As it is, the current legislation gives anyone the right to challenge the law on all sorts of weird and wonderful
grounds. The fishing industry needs to accept that protecting marine life is the real bottom line - that the extinction
of Maui's dolphins is forever, but profit is fleeting.
"The Green Party's recently-released conservation policy recognises that New Zealand's sea is woefully abused by
commercial fishers and neglected by Government: our policy puts marine conservation in the top three conservation
priorities for New Zealand.
"Commercial fishing has done great harm to New Zealand's underwater environment over the years - bottom trawling
continues to create great marine deserts devoid of life, while scientists have proved that unattended set nets are
responsible for the plight of the Maui's dolphin - only 100 remain in the whole world.
"I have drafted a Marine Animals Protection bill, which would legislate for improved oceans protection.
"The Green Party would urgently amend the Fisheries Act and Marine Mammals Protection Act, and pass the Marine Reserves
Bill. We would also reconstruct the Marine Conservation Unit in DOC, which was scrapped in the recent staff cuts," Mrs
Turei says.
"We condemn the actions of the Federation of Commercial Fishermen, and call on all parties to support any legislation
that protects New Zealand's unique animal life over selfish commercial interests."
ENDS