Saturday August 11
2.30pm onwards
Outside the Michael Fowler Centre, 111 Wakefield st. Te Oro, Wellington

To whom it may interest, I would like to invite you to an event organised from the Marlborough Sounds. We are going on a trip to Wellington to raise awareness on the effects of salmon farming and their new application.

I am a seventeen-year-old who lives here as a resident and have done so all my life. We have boat-access only and run an award-winning conservation project called Tui Nature Reserve (www.tuinaturereserve.co.nz ).

I have made a submission in opposition to the application of New Zealand King Salmon for their proposal of nine new salmon farms, eight of which are inside Marine Farm Prohibited Zones. Zones which were decided on by the community over a 35-year period. The hearing commences on the 27th of August.

I have huge concerns about this application for the following reasons;

• Environmental effects – these farms do a huge amount of damage to the seafloor beneath and around them. Dolphins drown in their nets, sharks and seals are attracted in large numbers - I have neighbours who don’t let their children swim in the bay they live in because of the bronze whaler sharks attracted by the salmon farm there.
• It’s a private company applying for a zone all for itself and its’ own profits, without paying any rates for the water-space.
• They want new farms even though they have problems with their current farms, which they have seven of. Earlier this year there has been a huge die-off of salmon in their Waihinau bay farm, cause ‘unknown’.
• I work for our own company which relies on people wanting to protect the environment here, seeing these farms in front of them does not inspire people to protect and enhance our conservation efforts here.
I would very much like the opportunity to talk to you about my position on this and why I am opposing. This is a matter of national importance and needs more attention.

Come and see us on the 11th of August, 14:30pm onwards at the Michael Fowler Centre. There will be more of us there who express the same concerns and would appreciate the chance to express their opinions and concerned citizens of New Zealand.

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