Putting oceans on the agenda this election year

Marine destruction is fast tracked. Protection is slow. Communities are picking up the pieces.

Rockpools are barren. Coastal and seabirds are in trouble. Fishes are suffering in factory farms. The fishing industry, with its seine nets and bottom trawling, is wiping out sea life.

Seabed mining sucks. It is not wanted or needed. Māui and Hector’s dolphins are the icons of all these impacts. Yet if we protect Māui and Hector’s dolphins, we protect the oceans.

From the Marine Policy Forum, we want more enforcement, less industry capture. More moral courage. We want an oceans commission, a commissioner for animals. Powers for local government. A ban on bottom trawling. A ban on seabed mining. To kill the fisheries Bill. An Oceans Act. Action for the oceans.

The dream welcoming team Photo: Venessa WestonNational MPs for North Harbour and Northland, Cameron Brewer and Grant McCallum Photo: Vanessa WestonCindy Baxter from Kiwis Against Seabed Mining Photo: Venessa WestonChristine Rose introduces the proceedings Photo: Venessa WestonQiulae Wong and Derrick Paull from Opportunity Party Photo: Venessa WestonTe Henga Tūturiwhatu - dotterel minders, Lesley Gardner and friend Photo: Venessa WestonEllie Hooper from Greenpeace Aotearoa talks against bottom trawling as Labour’s Rachel Brooking and ACT’s Simon Court watch on Photo: Venessa WestonEmily Hall from Save Animals From Exploitation - SAFE, talked about fish sentience and the hidden suffering of fishes in fish factory farms Photo: Venessa WestonGenevieve Robinson, Councillor for Environment Canterbury, talked about the potential powers of regional policy to regulate for marine protection Photo: Venessa WestonA beautiful and fitting poem from Genevieve Robinson Photo: Venessa WestonJamie Fowler from WWF-NZ spoke about policy solutions for the oceans Photo: Venessa WestonJohn Spiller from Howick Local Board with Rashi Parker from BirdCare Aoteoaroa Photo: Venessa WestonLabour’s Rachel Brooking - former Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, and Chris Gaskin from Northern NZ Seabird Trust Photo: Venessa WestonRaewyn Peart outlines a ten point plan for the oceans from Environmental Defence Society Photo: Venessa WestonDr Rashi Parker from BirdRescue Aotearoa and Blair Tuke from Live OceanRichard Gardner from Te Henga Tūturiwhatu-dotterel MindersRob McNeil from Animal Justice Party provided a perfect and entertaining bookend to the political speechesACT’s Simon Court talked about a shared vision for a healthy oceanSpeaking up for the planet - Green Party MP Steve Abel, KASM’s Cindy Baxter, Emeritus Professor Dr Liz Slooten - Māui and Hector’s dolphin expert, from the NZ Whale and Dolphin Trust, and Christine Rose, Marine Policy Forum and Māui and Hector’s Dolphin Defenders founder Photo: Venessa Weston