{"id":15246,"date":"2020-12-08T09:44:08","date_gmt":"2020-12-07T20:44:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/new-zealand\/?p=15246"},"modified":"2024-07-12T12:08:31","modified_gmt":"2024-07-12T00:08:31","slug":"gruesome-bycatch-xmas-tree-installed-at-ministry-of-oceans-and-fisheries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/press-release\/gruesome-bycatch-xmas-tree-installed-at-ministry-of-oceans-and-fisheries\/","title":{"rendered":"Gruesome bycatch Xmas tree installed at Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Wellington: <\/strong>Greenpeace activists have this morning installed a bycatch Christmas tree outside the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, urging them to give New Zealand the gift of cameras on boats this festive season.<\/p>\n\n

The four metre high tree is adorned with \u2018bycatch baubles\u2019 – paper mach\u00e9 stingrays, dolphins, penguins and turtles – to represent those caught and killed in the process of commercial fishing. <\/p>\n\n

\"Greenpeace
Greenpeace activists deliver bycatch Christmas tree to Ministry of Fisheries, calling for cameras on boats at the Ministry of Fisheries building in Wellington on Tuesday the 8th of December 2020. (C) Greenpeace \/ Marty Melville<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Greenpeace oceans campaigner Jessica Desmond says New Zealanders have had enough of the political pass the parcel, and that it\u2019s time for the Ministry to finally deliver on camera promises. <\/p>\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re here today because New Zealand\u2019s unmonitored commercial fishing fleet is causing critical damage to the oceans and the animals that live there,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cCameras on boats are proven to increase transparency and better behaviour from the commercial fishing industry, and that\u2019s essential if we want to protect the oceans for the future. <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

\u201cPrevious governments have failed to prioritise this issue time after time, but we have faith that this Government can deliver a Christmas miracle, and show us the plan for getting cameras on 100% of the commercial fishing fleet by the end of 2023.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

In September, the then Minister of Fisheries Stuart Nash announced his intention to commit funds to a cameras on boats programme. However his pledge only amounts to one third of the fleet having cameras, and not till after the next election in 2023. <\/p>\n\n

Desmond says this will be too little, too late.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cSuccessive governments have kicked this can down the road on this. What we\u2019re asking of them today is: show us the plan. New Zealanders are fed up of being fobbed off.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cThe technology for this already exists, we don\u2019t have to reinvent the wheel here, all we need leadership to do now is lead.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

A three piece choir is also on site singing a unique take on the Twelve Days of Christmas<\/em>, detailing marine life that currently dies at the hands of the commercial fishing industry.<\/p>\n\n

ENDS<\/p>\n\n

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The problem with singing carols in windy Wellington… #wellingtonwhine<\/a> #Wellington<\/a> #camerasonboats<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/TZxCSUFqNz<\/a><\/p>— Greenpeace Aotearoa (@GreenpeaceNZ) December 7, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>