Govt inaction on protecting Maui’s dolphins criticised by International Whaling Commission

The International Whaling Commission (IWC) has published a report that concludes the situation for New Zealand’s highly endangered Maui’s dolphin is dire, and that the Government’s “current management situation falls short of that required to reverse the Maui’s decline.”

The Commission calls on the Government to “take immediate management actions that will eliminate bycatch of Maui’s” and to “commit to specific population increase targets and timelines.”

“The International Whaling Commission report is hugely embarrassing for the Government. It highlights the significant failure of National’s response to protecting the Maui’s dolphin,” said Green Party oceans spokesperson Gareth Hughes.

“National’s policies allow deadly fishing methods to be used in Maui’s dolphin habitats. That is a recipe for extinction.

“National’s piecemeal changes have been deemed by the IWC to be inadequate to stop Maui’s extinction. The Government’s half-hearted changes have been exposed for the ineffective green wash they are.

“Maui’s are the world’s most endangered dolphins, with only 55 of these beautiful creatures left. National is placing short term economic interests ahead of Maui’s preservation.

“The Green Party will not let Maui’s go extinct,” said Mr Hughes.

The Green Party has long been campaigning for increased protection for Maui’s. The Green Party would comply with the recommendations of the International Whaling Commission and:

• Immediately stop all dolphin-lethal fishing methods in the Maui’s sanctuary;
• Work with the fishing industry to transition away from unsustainable indiscriminate fishing methods; and
• Progressively extend protection wherever Maui’s dolphins swim, in line with recommendations from the IWC.

“Saving the Maui’s is about protecting the world’s smallest dolphin, but it’s also about protecting our national brand and exports,” said Mr Hughes.

“Scientists are clear - indiscriminate fishing practices such as set netting and trawling are the main culprits.

“The Green Party would commit to the IWC recommendations to protect the Maui’s dolphin.”

For a copy of the IWC report go to: https://archive.iwc.int/pages/search.php?search=%21collection73&offset=0&order_by=relevance&sort=DESC&archive=0&go=up&k=

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