3 April 2006

Greens applaud Sealord action over whaling

The Green Party is welcoming the announcement by Sealord that its 50 per cent owner Nissui has severed its links with Japanese whaling.

"I hope this decision is a reflection of the influence that Sealord has upon Nissui and, if so, we congratulate them for responding positively to the views of New Zealanders," Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons says.

"We also congratulate Greenpeace for their recent campaign in the Southern Ocean. They certainly brought the issue to the world's attention and made clear the overwhelming opposition to whaling.

"Nissui's move will be noticed by consumers over there. We now urge Sealord and Nissui to lobby the rest of the Japanese whaling industry to abandon its scientific whaling programme, given that recent Australian research based on the work of 62 international scientists has shown that the relevant information about the Antarctic ecosystem can be gained without killing any whales at all.

"The Green Party is particularly concerned at Japan's plans to harpoon more than 900 whales in the next phase of its scientific programme, including endangered fin and humpback species.

"If we want to put a halt to this barbaric slaughter, the world must continue to keep pressure on the companies that choose to profit from it," Ms Fitzsimons says.

ENDS

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