Outdoor Recreation NZ
23 April 2006

Conservation groups are conservative with the truth on Hectors Dolphin issue

"Why are conservationists misleading impressionable school children and the Public?" asks ORNZ Acting Chair Phil Hoare.

"Whether in school education programs or TV adverts, the groups who are supposed to give us the facts about conservation seem to have a different agenda from the truth. They should be held responsible for their spread of incorrect and misleading information.

"The nonsense that is being passed as truth with regards to set-nets and the Maui Dolphins (Hectors Dolphins) is so preposterous it deserves to be found in the fiction section of someone's overactive imaginations!

"Wouldn't it be great for once if the Minister of Conservation Chris Carter could manage to get off his rear and ensure that when Conservation Groups are speaking out, they do so in a manner resembling reality?

"While it is widely recognized that the Maui Dolphin is on the endangered list, what isn't correct is that set netting is responsible for killing them. Since March 2001 till July 2003, there have been nine reported Hector Dolphin deaths. Only one of which was net related with the cause of a second death not directly attributable to set-nets.

"According to the nine Pathology reports received from the Department of Conservation, the remaining was through natural causes or beach-cast. And since July 2003 it is believed that there has only been a further two reported deaths - neither of which was set-net related!

"What's really behind all of this miss-information?

"Look deeper and we should take into account the recreational and commercial fishing effort. The fact is that there have been incorrect and misleading statements regarding both fishing sectors pouring out from conservationists with regard to set-netting, trawling Recreational fishing and Marine Reserves.

"Both the Department of Conservation and M/Fish are due to review the set-netting ban but the only big haul so far is lies!" said Phil.

ENDS

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