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Squid fishery decision criticised

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Squid fishery decision criticised

3News NZ

A sea lion (file pic)

A sea lion (file pic)

The Government is facing criticism for deciding to keep the maximum number of permitted fishing-related sea lion deaths in the Auckland Islands squid fishery at 68 for the 2012/13 season.

Primary Industries Minister David Carter announced the decision on Thursday, saying devices designed to allow sea lions to escape from nets were working.

Fisheries are closed when the permitted mortality rate is reached.

Mr Carter says there have been no reported sea lion captures in the Auckland Islands squid fishery for the last two seasons.

The Green Party says New Zealand sea lions are an endangered species and should have the utmost protection.

Oceans spokesman Gareth Hughes says the Government should make fishers use jigging rather than the "lethal" trawling method they currently use.

He says even one human-induced sea lion death is too many.

Forest and Bird says sea lion numbers have fallen 40 percent since 1998.

"The latest research shows the sea lion population will continue to spiral downwards towards extinction unless steps are taken to reduce the impact of fishing," it said.

Forest and Bird also wants fishers to be stopped from using trawls.

NZN

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Comments

3/08/2012 4:21:44 p.m.

common sense wrote:

Just goes to show how stupid these people are. No deaths for the last two seasons and they still claim it is not enough. No deaths for two years and they still blame the fishing industry for the drop in sealion numbers. Are they deaf or just stupid. Its about time they tried to find the real reason for there decline. or are they stupid. F+B still claim that fishing is the main reason for sealion population decline, are they stupid or do they think we are stupid. You got to ask yourself "what are these people realy after"

3/08/2012 8:58:36 a.m.

Mike wrote:

Forrest and Bird need to attack Iwi for their hand in these sea deaths.

Iwi sold NZ over 2 x over pre treaty.

After claims that they needed the NZ fishing quota for Maori jobs etc and being given quota, what did Iwi do? Historical grounds? On the basis that Maori have sold stuff repeatedly and claimed it back because they are greedy? The poor conditions on the trawlers, the sexual abuse, the low pay for foreign workers, the illegally dumped fish, the protected species being killed but not reported ... Iwi know about all this and are involved up to their necks! But wait, the abuses aren't being made to Maori, so it dont matter. And conservation, the Moa is a historical example of Maori conservation, or the Chatam Island Moriori which was almost wiped out by Maori conservation.

Oh, wait, they have foreign trawlers and what few jobs in NZ they made unemployed - Iwi at work!

The unions dont like Talleys, yet Talleys emloys in NZ giving work in NZ. The unions prefer to drive all business away than work with any employer - eg their strike action in the meat industry to drive out Affco, the last major meat processor in NZ who has only survived by Talley buying in.