oceans Archive

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  Easy to to have your say on EEZ Bill - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  Submissions for the Government’s new bill regulating the Exclusive Economic Zone close this Friday and we need as many as possible to help improve this law. read more
  January 25, 2012 2:14 pm - 1 Comment
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  Protect our critically endangered New Zealand sea lion - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  I was fortunate to see some sea lions in the wild yesterday on the Otago Peninsular as I launched our push to protect these critically endangered animals. Along with sea lion expert Dr Bruce Robertson and Sea Lion Trust Chairman Stephen Broni, I launched an online submission that people can send to the Government urging [...] read more
  December 19, 2011 5:39 pm - 7 Comments
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  World Oceans Day - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  I recently learned to scuba dive at the Taputeranga Marine Reserve on Wellington’s wild South coast which has given me a whole new appreciation of our marine environment. In contrast to outside the marine reserve, life is flourishing with an abundance of fish, crabs and crayfish. We are so lucky to have places like Taputeranga [...] read more
  June 8, 2011 8:57 pm - 10 Comments
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  Petrobras activists are heroes - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  I think the activists, some of them friends of mine, floating in the ocean to stop the Petrobras seismic testing ship are heroes. They are extraordinarily brave to put their bodies, and possibly criminal records, on the line. If the Crown Law experts decide there is some law they’ve broken by swimming in the ocean, [...] read more
  April 12, 2011 11:16 am - 84 Comments
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  Swimming with the sharks - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  Sharks are amazing creatures and fearsome predators, but they don’t stand a chance against our industrial fishing fleets and growing demand for shark fin soup. Shark finning − the practice of killing a shark, cutting off its fins, and discarding the carcass back to sea − is still legal in New Zealand, and like killing [...] read more
  March 24, 2011 8:27 am - 1 Comment
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  Protesting under the water - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  I’m still annoyed the Bluegreens, including the Conservation Minister, plan to cruise Akaroa Harbour this weekend so soon after they declined the local marine reserve application. How rude! Understandably there is going to be a local protest this weekend and whilst I can’t be there, today I staged what may be the first underwater protest [...] read more
  January 25, 2011 8:45 am - 4 Comments
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  Way less than 10% Pure New Zealand marine environment - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  Kiwis love our ocean. Oceans cover 70% of our planet and represent over 95% of the biosphere and in New Zealand our waters are particularly special. You may not have noticed (I didn’t see anything in the papers about it) that last week a big conservation meeting wrapped up in Nagoya, Japan. The UN Convention [...] read more
  November 5, 2010 2:14 pm - 2 Comments
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  Bottom trawling for excuses: how low can they go? - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  Yesterday’s paper brought back a flood of memories when I was rather surprised to see a photograph of myself in the NZ Herald. This photo from 2005 was in the paper because Peter Bodeker, chief executive of the Seafood Industry Council, had written an industry opinion piece defending the most destructive fishing practise used in [...] read more
  October 26, 2010 8:40 am - 11 Comments
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  Conservation week – under the sea - by Kevin Hague

  
  
  
  I live on an island close to the sea. The opening lyrics of Jess Chambers memorable song Island which featured in our 2008 election campaign will ring true with many. Our coastline features heavily in our recreational opportunities. Many of us yearn for a sunny day at the beach under a deep blue sky or [...] read more
  September 15, 2010 5:14 pm - 3 Comments
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  Fish industry uses net to catch hoki criticism - by frog

  
  
  
  To the surprise of conservationists, in 2001 the New Zealand hoki fishery was recognised as a sustainably managed fishery by the Marine Stewardship Council. Yet conservationists have continually raised concerns over how the fishery could possibly be sustainable when bycatch rates of NZ fur seals and seabirds are so high and the bottom trawling equipment [...] read more
  December 12, 2009 10:05 am - 9 Comments
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  Smart hook – smart economics - by frog

  
  
  
  Fisher-turned-inventor Hans Jussiet explains the shield and dissolvable pin that covers baited-hooks as they are launched in this video from an ABC TVshow. Once the shielded hook sinks below the depth of seabirds and turtles, the pin dissolves and the shield is released. [Video included] read more
  November 5, 2009 9:20 pm - 5 Comments
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  The last ocean - by frog

  
  
  
  The Ross Sea is described as the world’s last ocean. The Greens support making the Ross Sea a Protected Area, which would mean protecting the Ross Sea’s Antarctic toothfish from fishing. Do you agree? read more
  November 5, 2009 9:33 am - 8 Comments
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  Vote for a sustainable ocean: buy the best fish - by frog

  
  
  
  Forest and Bird has issued an update of its popular, and very useful, Best Fish Guide. The guide takes into account the state of fish stocks, the amount of seabird, marine mammal and non-target fish bycatch, the damage done to marine habitats and other ecological effects caused by the fishing to decide on its rating. [...] read more
  November 3, 2009 10:02 am - 9 Comments
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  Giant, Mucus-Like Sea Blobs on the Rise - by frog

  
  
  
  The latest climate change boogeyman fits the bill on all levels. It’s big, it’s slimy, it’s scary, and it’s on the increase because of rising temperatures due to climate change. I’ve encountered these babies myself while diving, and they are most unpleasant. Nati0nal Geographic has written them up in all their glory: Up to 124 [...] read more
  October 14, 2009 5:00 pm - 22 Comments
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  A blast from the coastal past - by frog

  
  
  
  Guess the author of this quote: “…How much coastline and seafront must be sacrificed forever before we learn that, in issues of profit versus the environment, environment must win? There can be no alternative.” read more
  October 10, 2009 11:00 am - 13 Comments
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  Sorry Sealions, it’s “too radical” to save you from extinction - by Metiria Turei

  
  
  
  DOC and Tim Groser’s excuse for dumping the Hookers Sealion population management plan that the plan is “too radical” and imposes costs is ridiculously lazy and stupid. The Bluegreens are clearly a complete greenwash – how disappointing. There was a moment or two when it looked like they might have been genuine in their commitment, [...] read more
  August 12, 2009 12:46 pm - 4 Comments
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  Marine Animals Bill an opportunity for Govt - by frog

  
  
  
  This Wednesday is Members’ day. One of the bills up for first reading is Metiria Turei’s Marine Animals Protection Law Reform Bill. The Environmental Defence Society’s chair, Gary Taylor, writes today about how the high-profile decline of marine animals and the threat this poses for our economy. He says that the bill is a great [...] read more
  July 27, 2009 1:45 pm - 12 Comments
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  Wild irony in fish advert - by frog

  
  
  
  This advert is on prominent display at Wellington airport. It’s similar to one I noted last year. The Talley boys’ colourful political views are quite well known, and they are hardly the poster-boys for sustainable wild fishing. For example, this insightful analogy for bottom-trawling – a practice that has caused UK supermarket Waitrose to destock [...] read more
  July 22, 2009 7:00 am - 20 Comments
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  The world’s most diverse seabird community needs you - by frog

  
  
  
  If ever there was an opportunity to protect a marine environment abundant in unique species, a growing tourism interest, and with minimal impact on fishing interests, this is it. The Subantarctic region is recognised as being of international significance. While the islands themselves enjoy considerable protection as nature reserves, little of the marine area surrounding [...] read more
  July 9, 2009 2:00 pm - 3 Comments
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  Battered Jellyfish and Chips? - by frog

  
  
  
  This week, the Fishing Industry announced it was seeking Marine Stewardship Council certification for five NZ fisheries. The Government endorsed the move, saying the “eco-label will be further endorsement of New Zealand’s careful fisheries management”. The Greens would love all of NZ’s fisheries to be MSC-certified, if only the “careful fisheries management” was a true [...] read more
  May 9, 2009 12:09 pm - 8 Comments