Thursday, 23 June 2005

Baldock applauds Japan's whaling defeat

United Future conservation spokesman Larry Baldock today applauded the defeat of Japan's attempt to overturn the commercial ban on whaling at the International Whaling Commission meeting in South Korea.

"It is clear whales are beautiful creatures and New Zealand benefits enormously from whale-watching activities," he said.

"It has been vitally important to take the conservation measures that have been taken in recent years to ensure that whales do not continue to be threatened species and we applaud those nations that have voted responsibly at the IWC.

"There is, however, a need for the Conservation Minister, Chris Carter, to have a reality check when he accuses Japan of inhumanity because of their whaling activities.

"He would do well to turn his attention back to New Zealand and review the confiscation of the inshore marine area being undertaken to pursue DOC's marine reserve obsession.

"New Zealanders are conservation-minded, but they like to be engaged in a respectful consultation process, not the kind of confiscation tactics he is currently employing," Mr Baldock said.

ENDS

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