A Letter protesting whaling and irresponsible fishing

Tuesday 9 March 2010

To those who hold our childrens future in their hands,

I would like to join my voice to the people of New Zealand who are opposed to whaling.

I would to make it clear to our politicians and leaders that my family and I want New Zealand to remain strictly opposed to ALL whaling and we want the countries who are still doing it to be held accountable in the International Court of Justice and we want New Zealand to back any efforts to do so. Our stance on whaling is that it is not justified or moral and it must be stopped.

I also wish to point out that irresponsible commercial fishing is causing dreadful damage to our sea stocks and our coastlines and it must also be stopped. I am aware that our own fishing industry is fishing out our waters using foreign vessels and crews. As I understand it, foreign vessels are not legally allowed to be fishing within 200 nautical miles of the New Zealand shore. This is happening apparently because of a legal loophole that must also be closed quickly and effectively.

There are several species of fish that were once plentiful and are now nearing an endangered status. People are now able to watch commercial fishing vessels pillaging our oceans from the beach – regardless of whether or not it is legal, there should not be commerical fishing within the 12 mile coastal limit. Something needs to be done now to protect our waters.

Once upon a time it was a wonderful thing to explore the rock pools on our beaches because they used to be teeming with abundant life. and it was easy to gather a bit of seafood for lunch. But even now there are many beaches in New Zealand where you'll be lucky to find a decent sized hermit crab for your kids to look at. This cannot be.

• I want the children of New Zealand to able to see whales and dolphins in their natural habitat, living as they should – free and safe from harm caused by humans.
• I want the children of New Zealand to able to play on New Zealand beaches that are teeming with the sealife I knew when I was a child.
• I want the illegal pillaging of our oceans and coastlines stopped and I want to see those responsible punished now before it's too late.

If our grandchildren ever have to look up at us and ask us why there are no whales and what did real fish taste like - we should not have to be ashamed of our answer.

Think of how history will remember you in fifty years. Please make a difference now.

Thank you for your time,

Put your own name here,

Put your own town here.