Extinction crisis but fish stocks OK

It was grim news for conservation front in our part of the world this week, with a survey of conservation research in the Oceania region finding that the area is losing species at least as fast as the rest of the planet - and possibly even faster.

"Earth is experiencing its sixth great extinction event and the new report reveals that this threat is advancing on six major fronts," said the report's lead author, Professor Richard Kingsford of the University of New South Wales. Nearly a quarter of the 24,000 publications included in the review came from New Zealand.

Among the report's findings: More than 2,500 invasive plants have colonized New Zealand and Australia - representing about 11 percent of native plant species.

However, a second report out this week in the journal Science gives New Zealand a glowing report when it comes to rebuilding fish stocks. The paper Rebuilding Global Fisheries suggests New Zealand and Alaska lead the world in fisheries management. Speaking to Morning Report, the Ministry of Fisheries chief scientist, Dr Pamela Mace put that down to New Zealand's decision in the 1980s to introduce a fishing quota management system.

Meanwhile, the Marine Animals Protection Law Reform Bill was knocked back on its first reading in parliament. The bill sponsored by the Greens sought to require the Government to state clear species protection objectives and undertake ongoing monitoring to ensure the objectives are met.

Labour, United Future, the Maori Party and the Progressive Party backed the bill but didn't have the numbers in the house against National and ACT who voted against it.

ENDS