Peter Bodeker, CEO of New Zealand Seafood Industry Council, said that after public consultation the government has extended the set net ban on the west coast of the North Island from four to seven nautical miles from shore. An area at the top of the South Island is also being considered for a set-net closure. The main aim of this ban is to protect the rare Hector’s and Maui’s dolphin populations.
But Bodeker says there is no evidence they are at risk from commercial fishermen. In 2003 the set-netters affected by the impending decision were forced to fish outside four nautical miles. “Not a single dolphin has been caught since the 2003 restrictions were applied. Extending this ban would not provide any greater protection for the dolphins than already exists, but it would damage the livelihoods of hard working New Zealanders, says Bodeker.
According to him the government should take decision based on scientific evidence. Bodeker said that this is too important to get wrong. It needs to be based on the best available information in the form of a risk assessment. Vague, emotive and subjective assessments are not appropriate when people’s livelihoods are on the line.
