Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Massive Purse Seine Fishers horrifies dolphin defenders

Sunday 2 February 2016

Massive Purse Seine Fishers Close to Shore Among Endangered Māui Dolphins Leaves Communities Aghast

Reports of Māui dolphins inshore with surfers at Piha this week have coincided with local resident concerns about purse seine fishing close to shore.

The 61m Talley’s purse seiner, the Eagle, fishing for skipjack tuna, has been seen just beyond iconic Lion Rock at Piha over the past week and has left both conservationists and local coastal communities aghast at current West Coast fisheries management.

At the same time, endangered Māui dolphins have been swimming inshore among surfers, meaning the dolphins are at direct risk of entrapment. Reports today and photos on various Piha facebook pages over recent weeks, show commercial purse seine fishing vessels what locals estimate as close as 350m from shore. Locals from the Piha Deep Sea Fishing Club indicate the indiscriminate purse seine fishing operation was occurring an incredible 150 m from shore.

Māui and Hector’s dolphin advocate, Christine Rose, says “Gill nets are banned in the area out to only 2nm nautical miles offshore, offering inadequate protection for the last 55 Māui dolphins. But seeing these fishing boats so close to shore has us all alarmed at what’s being done to the ocean”.

Mrs Rose, Chair of Māui and Hector’s Dolphin Defenders says “Both local recreational fishermen and residents are aghast at what they see as flagrant fisheries abuse with these massive commercial fishing vessels so close to shore”. “They say it’s no wonder they find it harder to catch fish with a line and hook”.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

“But of significant concern is that Māui dolphins, the world’s rarest and smallest dolphin, are clearly in waters where these indiscriminate nets are scooping up everything in their path.” “Scientific consensus is that gill nets are the greatest threat to Māui and Hector’s dolphins. With three or four Māui killed in nets every year. That’s clearly an unsustainable rate. Māui dolphins can’t withstand a single human-induced death in the next 21 years if the species is to avoid extinction. “At Piha right now, it’s feared extinction is happening before our eyes”.

“Large scale, indiscriminate commercial purse seine fishing Boats at Piha are a stone’s throw from shore while surfers swim with Māui dolphins in their wake” says Mrs Rose.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.