May 20, 2014
Petition to save Maui’s dolphin
Whale writer author Witi Ihimaera has backed a World Wildlife Foundation campaign to pull the Maui dolphin back from the brink of extinction.
The Last 55 campaign, a reference to the estimated number of surviving dolphins, calls for an end to set netting and trawling in their range off the North Islands west coast, and support to fishers into transition for dolphin-friendly practices.
Ihimaera says it’s time for all of us to be kaitiaki of what is the smallest and rarest dolphin specied.
WWF-New Zealand executive director Chris Howe says the science says net bans are needed from Maunganui Bluff in Northland to the mouth of the Whanganui River, out to 100 metres of water.
"Remember these are very small dolphins, they get caught in nets they cant hold their breaths very long so when they get caught in nets they drown. If that threat was removed then we'll give this precious taonga its best chance of survival and recovery " he says.
Chris Howe says the World Wildlife Fund is trying to get at least 55,000 signatures on its Last 55 petition before the election.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH CHRIS HOWE CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MTgyNjQ=
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