Industry supports investigations into dolphin deaths

Thursday 23 February 2012

For immediate release

New Zealand seafood industry supports Ministry investigations into dolphin deaths

The New Zealand Seafood Industry Council today said it fully supported the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s investigations into the recent death of two Hector’s dolphins off the east coast of the South Island.

“As an industry we are well aware of our responsibilities to report these incidents and we do report them and we would expect recreational fishers to do the same”, says Mr Bodeker, Chief Executive of the New Zealand Seafood Industry Council.

Mr Bodeker said that given that the dolphins were found on shore, and the type of net used, this suggested it was more likely that recreational fishers were involved.

“The criminal investigation will hopefully get to the bottom of this incident and deal with the offenders appropriately.

“It is the responsibility of all those fishing, not just commercial fishers, to take more care in fishing methods to reduce by catch.”

ENDS

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