_ARC applauds dolphin protection measures

30 May 2008

_Auckland Regional Council (ARC) leaders are commending the government on its recently announced measures to protect Maui’s and Hector’s dolphins.

The ARC took a prominent role in supporting a campaign organised by the Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to protect the dolphins.

ARC chairman Mike Lee and Cr Christine Rose today praised Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton for undertaking a thorough and robust process which led to the decisive measures announced yesterday.

The ARC thanked all the other councils which joined the campaign to protect the dolphins.

Mr Lee and Cr Rose described the plight of the Maui’s dolphin as a seriously endangered Auckland marine mammal.

“All scientific advice points to the fact that the Maui’s dolphin is just a few short years from total extinction.”

Mr Anderton’s intervention comes just in time – even then the situation for this marine mammal will remain critical

“Let us hope that the Maui’s dolphin does not share the same fate of the Huia which was in exactly the same position 100 years ago.”

We commend the Minister and the Government for this step.

ENDS

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