Boycott threat over Maui’s Dolphins

The New Zealand seafood industry is under a boycott threat according to an article published in the Bangkok Post today.

In the article, Barbara Maas, an endangered species specialist with conservation group NABU International, speaks out about the endangered species and criticises New Zealand’s clean and green image.

“We’ve exhausted all other avenues of making progress,” she told the reporter.

“We’ve repeatedly argued the scientific merits of the case and been ignored, so if it’s all about money, as has become apparent, then we need to change the economic landscape in order to make them reconsider.”

Maas said a seafood boycott would lead to customers questioning the “100 percent pure” branding that New Zealand prides itself on.

“The shame of this is that it will besmirch the environmental reputation of the country and once you start that process it’s difficult to turn it off,” she said.

New Zealand’s seafood exports are worth more than NZ$1.5 billion ($1.2 billion) a year, according to official data, with China, Australia the European Union and United States the largest markets.

Maas said more than 100 conservation groups worldwide have signed up to support the boycott, which she said was set to be imposed within months.

Seafood New Zealand chief executive Tim Pankhurst said the government had already banned trawl and set-net fishing in 6,000 square kilometres (2,300 square miles) of waters and there was no evidence Maui’s dolphins existed outside this area.

“Suggestions that consumers avoid New Zealand seafood to protect Maui’s dolphins are accordingly misplaced,” he said.

A spokeswoman for Conservation Minister Nick Smith said there had been no sightings of Maui’s dolphins in the extended area where the IWC wants a ban imposed.

“If there is a credible sighting of a Maui’s dolphin beyond where we have protections in place, then we’d be happy to initiate a review,” she said.

To read more, see the article here

In my opinion*, it is unlikely that a boycott would be successful without the support of the New Zealand community or the international community, both of whom may not have the conviction to really put pressure on the seafood industry.

The only way law will change is if there is a ‘credible sighting’ which s no easy feat itself considering Maui’s Dolphins are hard to differentiate from the Hector’s dolphin.

A spokesperson from the Department of Conservation says a credible sighting involves 3 key steps.

It needs to be sighted and photogrpahed, the location of the sighting needs to be mapped, and of course you would need to ensure it was a Maui and not a Hector’s.

Of course, the seafood industry have been known to discredit sightings if they are proven to be hector’s dolphins as this species isn’t seen as endangered.

The argument that it is the same species seems to be lost on those who have financial agendas.

So really, the law needs to cover Maui’s dolphins and Hector’s dolphins in order for all sightings to be valid and taken into account.

If you want to report a sighting, you can do so here

What is Fact, and What is Agenda?

When I began this blog I had a very firm view on the Maui’s Dolphins and the role the government and the media played in their downfall or salvation.

However, a source close to the work on these dolphins has opened my eyes and I have seen through all the differing facts and figures which are used to the purpose of different groups’ agendas.

For example, there are not 55 Dolphins left. This is an estimate provided by the Department of Conservation which could fluctuate anywhere between 40 and 100 and doesn’t include juvenile dolphins.

It is also incredibly difficult to tell a Maui’s dolphin from another Hector’s dolphin until you can look at it under a microscope. The two dolphins are also limey interbreeding and therefore numbers of Maui’s dolphins could be much larger than we think.

This information made me question whether 55 was a population number, or a brand used to evoke more passion and crisis.

I took these concerns to Green Party co-leader, Dr Russel Norman at an election meeting and while he agreed there are agendas at work, he also said the bottom line is the dolphins need protecting.

However, instead of focussing of oil exploration and drilling, Dr Norman said the party was looking more strongly at fishing and gill nets which are the main culprit in dolphin deaths.

I think this is what the public needs to keep in mind when it’s being fed information from the media and from the government.

No matter if 50 or 100 are left, they need protecting and we need to collectively focus on the major problems like fishing instead of firing shots over a small problem like oil exploration.

Don’t believe everything you read, especially if it has bias oozing out of every word and every pore of the page.

The government has an agenda, but so do the passionate environmentalists. The key is to pull out the important information and take out the branding.

Kumeu Protest

9 July 2014

Media Release

After successful marches around the country, Maui’s dolphin campaigners continue their pressure on the Government with a march to John Key’s electorate office in Kumeu this Sunday.

The group will meet at 10am, leaving from the Kumeu Arts Centre at 10.30.

Christine Rose, Chair of Maui’s & Hector’s Dolphins Education/Action says New Zealanders, and especially coastal communities, love Maui’s dolphins.

“Set nets cause about 95% of Maui’s deaths caused by humans”.

But Mrs Rose says those nets remain in most of the dolphin habitat.

“Now the Maui’s – and their coastal home, face added threats such as new oil and gas mining,” she says.

Mrs Rose says almost everyone wants Maui’s dolphins saved, from school children to scientists, and everyone in between, here, and overseas, right up to esteemed biologist Jane Goodall.

Speakers at the march will include Riley Hathaway, child presenter of ‘Young Ocean Explorers’ from TV’s What Now programme, Phil McCabe from Kiwis Against Seabed Mining, and representatives from NGOs and political parties.

“We know this is an issue of widespread importance to New Zealanders across the political spectrum and that public opinion is on the side of the wee dolphins,

“But it’s especially important to West Coasters. For us seeing Maui’s has become almost mythical and a few have been lucky enough to surf or swim with them.” Rose says there have been several sightings of Maui’s dolphins off Muriwai as late as May this year,” says Mrs Rose.

ENDS

NOTES:

The Auckland March for Maui’s: 10am assemble at Kumeu Arts Centre, 300 Main Rd, Kumeu for 10.30 march.

Featuring speeches from MPs and NGOs, protesters carrying dolphins and banners, street theatre

Maui’s dolphins are the world’s rarest and smallest marine mammal, found only in New Zealand’s inshore waters.

Maui’s are concentrated along Auckland’s West Coast but can be found from Northland to beyond Taranaki. Maui’s are fully protected only in a small area off Taranaki.

Their longshore habitat includes the West Coast from Maunganui Bluff in Northland to at least Taranaki and inside West Coast harbours. Offshore they range out to at least 7nm.

A ‘family’ group or pod of 7-8 Maui’s dolphins lives off Muriwai-Te One One Rangitira and can sometimes be seen from shore or interacting with surfers.

Gillnetting accounts for 95% of their human induced deaths, and is allowed in their habitat anywhere beyond 2nm from shore.

In the last couple of weeks a protest outside Simon Bridges’ office (Minister for Energy and Resources) attracted 350 protestors. A lunchtime march in Wellington on 2 July also received good support, despite wild weather.

Wellington protesters bid to save the last 55 ‘Hobbits of the Sea’

By Sarah Wilson.

Published on Newswire.co.nz

PROTESTERS fighting for the last 55 Maui’s dolphins will target Nick Smith in a march on the Department of Conservation in Wellington tomorrow.

The protest is over claims that the Minister of Conservation misled Parliament last week about Maui dolphin sightings in areas approved for oil exploration.

Wellingtonians will gather at Civic Square at noon tomorrow and march to the DoC office in Manners St to deliver the letter voicing concern about the lack of action being taken to ensure the survival of New Zealand’s smallest and most rare dolphin.

Protest organiser Christine Rose, says campaigners want accountability and action from the Minister of Conservation.

Media reported last week that Mr Smith admitted there could have been sightings of Maui’s Dolphins in areas opened for oil and gas exploration but described them as unverified.

However, Green Party co-leader Russel Norman said Department of Conservation figures showed there had been 10 sightings in the area.

DoC spokesperson Reuben Williams, this week could not confirm if the sightings had now been validated.

“I suspect that yes, these sightings would be validated sightings but without looking at them on a map it will be hard to provide a firm answer to this question,” Mr Williams says.

“We know the public of New Zealand want better protection for these lovely little dolphins, scientists say it’s imperative, and we aim to represent those views with our letter and march,” she says.

Mrs Rose says they hope to retain focus on the importance of Maui’s Dolphins, to continue reflecting public opinion to the Government, and to raise awareness.

“Nick Smith should answer for this and the world condemnation that results.

Maui’s dolphins are now an election issue and we seek to ensure New Zealanders have the facts about Maui’s, their threats, and the policies of different parties so people can make an informed, and hopefully wise choice,” she says.

Organisers hope to attract a good crowd with representatives from non-governmental organisations (NGO), members of the public and MPs expected to attend.

Mrs Rose says the event is part of a rolling campaign which is part of a wider movement, involving other NGOs and concerned citizens.

“This is a reminder that we will not give up,” she says.

Mr Williams says DoC will continue to focus on the greatest threats to Maui dolphin and as there have been no raecorded deaths of Maui/Hector’s caused by petroleum exploration, it has not been included in their Threat Management Plan.

 “We are currently in the process of appointing a Maui’s dolphin research advisory group made up of all interested parties to advise on research priorities for the species,” he says.

The Wellington protest will be followed by a similar march and presentation in John Key’s electorate of Helensville on July 13 and other marches in centres around the country are also being planned.

Kumeu Protest. Image by Mia Rigaloo

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employement make a statement

I spoke to Britton Broun, the Senior Communications advisor for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment today and while he is trained in the art of communication and media and therefore cannot be taken at face value, he did provide some key points to thing about as the Green Party points a bold finger at the oil industry in the wake of a controversial debate over the bids for oil exploration in the Marine Mammal Sanctuary off the West Coast of New Zealand.

“There has been petroleum activity in what is now the West Coast Marine Mammal Sanctuary for decades. More than 20 wells have been drilled in the area since 1975 and there are currently 17 active permits that have been granted in, or overlap with, the West Coast North Island Marine Mammal Sanctuary, including New Zealand’s largest producing gas field, Pohokura, which produces around half of New Zealand’s gas needs. Over the history of petroleum activity in the area, there has not been asingle incident involving Maui’s dolphins.

In 2012, the Government established a collaborative forum of experts that reviewed the potential risks to Maui’s dolphins and what more could be done to ensure their survival. The forum found that the threat to Maui’s dolphins from oil and gas development is very small. Fishing-related activities, specifically set nets, were identified as the biggest threat (95%) to Maui’s dolphins. In response the Government roughly doubled the area of the set net ban in the marine mammal sanctuary and now have over 100km2 of protection for each Maui dolphin.

Seismic Surveying is allowed within the marine mammal sanctuary, provided operators adhere to the 2013 Code of Conduct for Minimising Acoustic Disturbance to Marine Mammals from Seismic Survey Operations. The Code, which was developed by the Department of Conservation and the Petroleum and Exploration & Production Association of New Zealand (PEPANZ), is designed to ensure marine mammals are protected during petroleum exploration of this kind. It is the most stringent formof regulation in the world for the prevention of harm to marine mammals from seismic activity. Under the Code operators must submit an environmental impact assessment to DoC, have observers on board the survey vessel and cease any survey activity if marine mammals are spotted.”

I have my own views on this issue which are influenced by my seemingly undying love for these gorgeous wee creatures, but I do graciously admit that I am in no way properly qualified to pass judgement about who’s to blame, who’s right or wrong and what needs to be done to protect our ocean hobbits.

Maui’s dolphins are now a definite election issue following the Colmar Brunton poll which revealed that a majority of voters are mindful of the last 55 dolphins. I simply wish to ensure New Zealanders have the facts about Maui’s, their threats, and the policies of different parties so they can make an informed choice.

I have presented a lot of material which shows the views of many on the topic, and this is a view to represent the national led Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

New Zealanders will vote to protect Maui’s

This poll data was released today on WWF’s website which shows 60% of New Zealanders are more likely to vote for a party in this election who will protect Maui’s Dolphins.

“The Government needs to listen to the science, the IWC and the people of New Zealand and protect these amazing dolphins before it’s too late” said WWF New Zealand Head of Campaigns Peter Hardstaff.

The poll found that a majority of people were more likely to vote for political parties that expand the ban on set nets and trawl nets across the Maui’s entire range with just 7% were less likely to vote for a political party that protects Maui’s.

“It is clear from this and earlier polls that New Zealanders love these dolphins and want them protected. We are calling on all political parties to make a commitment before the election to protecting Maui’s across their entire range.

“The Labour and Green Parties have already indicated they will expand protection for Maui’s, and we call on others to follow suit.

“We need all the political parties to get behind the Maui’s dolphin and do what is required to save them.

“This poll also shows that there is support for transitioning fishers to dolphin-friendly fishing practices.  We are calling on the government to stop using fishers as an excuse and provide them with the support they deserve and need to transition, said Mr Hardstaff.

The poll also found that just over half of New Zealanders are more likely to vote for parties that support fishers to use dolphin-friendly practices with only 10% were less likely to vote for party that would support fishers.

It will be interesting to see if this effects any of the parties current stance on oil exploration in the Maui’s Dolphin range and the fishing industries effect on their population.

From this data it is conclusive that a majority of New Zealanders do care about the survival of this species and that the power of votes may see the change we have been waiting for.

Conservation Minister claims he did not ‘mislead the government’ and then backtracks

An article published yesterday on Yahoo News, New Zealand has revealed that Conservation Minister Nick Smith misled the government amidst claims there were no sightings of Maui’s dolphins in an area known to be part of their habitat.

“Conservation Minister Nick Smith is not telling the truth when he says that no Maui’s dolphins have been observed in the area that the Government has opened up for oil and gas exploration,” said Green Party Co-leader Dr Russel Norman.

“Nick Smith’s own department has documented evidence that he is wrong, and that there have been sightings of Maui’s dolphins in the area that National is opening up for oil exploration.

“This gives us no confidence that this Government is taking the plight of the Maui’s dolphin seriously.”

Maui’s sightings from the Department of Conservation’s own database mapped onto the area open to the Government’s competitive tender for petroleum exploration permits, known as Block Offer 2014, shows that ten Maui’s sightings are within the Block Offer area.

“While the International Whaling Commission is calling for even greater protections for Maui’s dolphins, this National Government is putting these beautiful dolphins at greater risk of extinction, then misleading the public about it,” said Dr Norman.

In a separate article published hours later on Stuff.co.nz, Dr Nick Smith admitted there could have been sightings of the dolphins in areas opened for oil and gas exploration but goes on to deny misleading the government.

Smith this evening confirmed what he described as some unverified sightings in the newly-opened area which were brought to his attention today.

He conceded he should have been more clear in the House but did not accept that he had misled Parliament.

“When I made the statement that there was not a single observation of the Maui’s Dolphin I was referring to the independent programme that the Government had set up as part of the Maui’s Dolphin risk management plan.”

Smith said this involved 809 days of observations where not a single Maui’s Dolphin was seen in the area, and maintained their presence was “close to zero”.

The petroleum industry posed a very low risk to the safety of the dolphin – the world’s most endangered dolphin with a population of just 55, all residing in New Zealand waters off the west coast of the North Island, he said.

“All the technical advice on the Maui’s Dolphin is that over 95 percent of the risk is from set netting and from fishing,” he said.

Prime Minister John Key also dismissed the Green Party claims that the permits put the dolphins at greater risk as “based on a load of mumbo jumbo”.

“What a load of nonsense. If that was absolutely correct then given that we’ve been drilling the Taranaki region since the 1960s and there’s never been a situation where a Maui Dolphin has been killed as a result of that – you think it would have happened some time in the last 50 years. It’s just the mumbo jumbo that the Greens go on about.”

 

The issue of the Maui’s dolphin is gaining a lot of political traction and could be an important factor for the country to consider when voting in elections later this year.

While the government argue about which party is right and which party should be in charge, a unique dolphin species is still at concerning population numbers and as pointed out countless times by the International Whaling Committee, something needs to be done very very soon.

Conservation Minister Nick Smith dismisses Green Party Claim

In an article published on The New Zealand Herald website, Conservation Minister Nick Smith defends the oil exploration in an area known to have Maui’s Dolphins as claimed by The Green Party.

“Dr Smith told Newstalk ZB this morning that after 30 years of oil and gas industry operating off the coast of Taranaki, there had not been any incidents with Maui’s dolphin.

Documents released to the Green Party revealed that 3000 square kilometres of the home of Maui’s dolphin, known as the West Coast North Island Marine Mammal Sanctuary, was included in the area signed off by the Government for sea and land oil and gas exploration.

“All of the deaths of Maui’s dolphins that have been caused by humans have been from set net fishing,” Dr Smith said.

“It would be an economic nonsense to say that you’re going to shut down a $3 billion oil and gas industry that employs about 7000 people in that region on the off-chance a Maui’s dolphin may vary out from the dominant area and may somehow come to harm from that industry, he said”

Dr Smith shot back at The Greens saying the country would be in real trouble if we deferred to an “extreme green position.”

Read more here

Video: Famed conservationist slams drilling in Maui’s patch

Recent news and speculation around the Maui’s dolphin has centred around the claim made by The Green Party that the Government is offering exploration permits in 3000 square kilometres of the West Coast North Island Marine Mammal Sanctuary, thought to be home to Maui’s dolphin.

Jane Goodall, a well known conservationist, has expressed her concerns over the actions or failure of actions by the government who are maintaining that the claim is based on “mumbo-jumbo.”

This video published on TVNZ’s One News website last night shows Jane Goodall speaking on the issue.

“Governments giving big corporations permits to go and explore for oil and minerals in national parks and reserve areas – like this awful one along the West Coast in the marine reserve where there’s going to be oil drilling. And it’s awful because the last 55 Maui dolphins are there,” she says.

Oil drilling will threaten Maui’s dolphin, say Greens

Latest news has revealed a claim by the Green Party that the government is allowing oil exploration in a marine reserve that is thought to be the home of the Maui’s Dolphin.

This article published on TVNZ’s One News website last week states how The Greens claim they have obtained documents under the Official Information Act which reveal the Government included over 3,000 square kilometres of the West Coast North Island Marine Mammal Sanctuary in the competitive tender for petroleum exploration permits, known as Block Offer 2014.

“The International Whaling Commission is calling for even greater protections for Maui’s dolphins, this National Government is putting these beautiful dolphins at greater risk of extinction,” says Green Party co-leader Russel Norman.

Dr Norman is urging the government to consider the risks of oil exploration in known habitats of the dolphins as experts say the seismic surveying involved in the exploration process could push dolphins our of this area and further into areas where they are likely to be caught up in more fishing nets.

“Just last week the International Whaling Commission published a report that said the ‘current management situation falls short of that required to reverse the Maui’s decline’.

Maui’s dolphins – the world’s most endangered dolphin – are only found in New Zealand, and the Government is driving them to extinction, Dr Norman says.

‘The Government should stop putting the short-term interest of a few mining companies ahead of the thousands and thousands of New Zealanders who love and want to protect the endangered Maui’s dolphin,’ he says.”

Read more here