International Pressure on PM to pull NZ bottom trawl fleet from High Seas.
/Amsterdam//, Monday 30 Oct 2006:/ An international coalition of more than 60 environment and conservation groups has
called on New Zealand to pull its bottom trawl fishing fleet out of the international waters of the South Pacific to
protect deep-sea life.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, Helen Clark, the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC) urged her government to
withdraw licences from New Zealand-flagged bottom trawlers that fish in international waters for orange roughy and other
deep-sea species. An interim ban would remain until effective conservation and management measures are established that
protect vulnerable deep-sea life.
In their letter to Ms Clark, DSCC coordinator, Kelly Rigg, and policy advisor, Matthew Gianni, said such initiative
would demonstrate strong leadership and New Zealand’s commitment to protect deep-sea life.
“New Zealand is responsible for 90% of the high seas bottom trawling in the South Pacific region. If New Zealand removes
its bottom trawlers, it will immediately end the biggest source of damage to deep-sea life in the region, and it would
send a positive message about New Zealand’s commitment that would be noticed worldwide,” said DSCC policy advisor
Matthew Gianni.
“Helen Clark has just announced she wants New Zealand aiming to be ‘the first country which is truly sustainable’.
Ending New Zealand’s part in the destruction of deep sea life in international waters would be a logical next step,”
said Mr Gianni.
On November 6, fishing nations from around the world will join New Zealand, Australia and Chile in Hobart to resume
negotiations agreed last February on a new regional fisheries management organization to cover the South Pacific Ocean
and Tasman Sea.
Every day the talks continue, so too does the destruction of bottom trawling. It’s expected to take several years to
conclude the negotiations and then get the new organization running effectively.
“Deep-sea life in the high seas of the South Pacific and Tasman Sea can’t survive any more years of plunder by New
Zealand’s bottom trawl fleet,” said Mr. Gianni. “There is no need to wait, because New Zealand has the authority to act
now, on its own, to halt the destruction”.
The DSCC urged the Prime Minister to ensure that her government plays a leadership role at Hobart and negotiates a
temporary ban on bottom trawling throughout the entire South Pacific, to remain in place until effective conservation
and management measures and enforcement capability are finally established.
“By announcing its intention to withdraw its high seas bottom trawling fleet, New Zealand would gain enormous respect
for its commitment to biodiversity protection from the international community,” Mr. Gianni said.
“It would also send a strong signal to nations at the United Nations General Assembly currently negotiating over how to
end destructive high seas bottom trawling that New Zealand is prepared to take direct responsibility for protecting
deep-sea biodiversity,” he concluded.
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Seven members organisations comprise the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition’s International Steering Committee :
Conservation International
Greenpeace International
Natural Resources Defence Council
The Pew Charitable Trusts
Oceana
Marine Conservation Biology Institute
Seas at Risk
For the full list see: http://www.savethehighseas.org/about.cfm
In New Zealand, the DSCC member groups are:
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Environment and Conservation Organisations of New Zealand (ECO)
The Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society of New Zealand
Greenpeace New Zealand
ENDS