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by Pete Bethune on Tuesday, 27 November 2012 at 20:52

“I’d like to buy the movie rights to your book Whale Warrior”, Andrew says to me, as he hands over a glass of Bollinger champagne. I take a sip, and the liquid is dry and rich, as I swirl it around my mouth.

“Now why would you wanna do that”, I reply finally.

Conservation vs Tradition Hunting
by S Dale Bowman, National Director, Earthrace Conservation New Zealand

Since the beginning of humans’ time on earth we have been a race of hunters and gatherers, there is no disputing this. We have survived by eating our way to the top of the food chain and along the way many species have been lost to extinction. We have evolved to become the planets biggest predator and we do it well but within this evolution we have also increased our understanding of the impact we have on our environment....well, some of us have.

by Pete Bethune

“It’s a real shame”, says Dr. Liz Slooten, the World’s leading scientist on Maui’s dolphins. “This was New Zealand’s chance to stand up and be a leader on the protection of endangered species… instead, we’re just business as usual. I fear it spells the death knell for the Maui’s”. There is a hint of resignation in her voice, the first time I’ve heard it from this extraordinary lady.

from Pete Bethune

“Our industry is doomed”, Rewi says to me angrily. “And it happened the day those bastards in Wellington introduced the quota management system.” Rewi pours some milk into a steaming cup of tea and hands it over to me. “Ever since then, our industry has been on a slippery slope to oblivion.”

His comments surprise me. I’ve just seen him offload a large haul of groper, hapuka and ling, and it hardly seems like the catch of a dying industry. I’m also well aware that many of the fishermen with quota have become wealthy men as its value has increased.