Ruth
DYSON
Conservation Spokesperson

14 February 2013 MEDIA STATEMENT
PM can’t ignore chorus of concern

The Government can no longer ignore international outrage over the plight of the world’s most endangered dolphins says Labour’s Conservation spokesperson Ruth Dyson.

Calls today from the world’s largest group of marine experts asking the Prime Minister to intervene to save the Maui’s dolphin shows that the issue is under the global spotlight.

“The scientific community and opposition political parties have been warning the government for over a year that inaction on the protection of our most vulnerable species is effectively a death warrant.

“The Society for Marine Mammalogy (SMM) has called on John Key directly to ban gillnets and trawling immediately to avoid their extinction.

“The Government’s refusal to vote for additional protections at the International Union for Conservation of Nature conference in Korea last year did not go unnoticed.

“John Key needs to realise that this is not just an environmental outrage, it is also economic stupidity. If New Zealand continues to ignore international opinion on this issue, we risk an international fishing boycott in our waters.

“That could well put our fishing industry on the endangered list too.

“The Prime Minister needs to take action,” Ruth Dyson said.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

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