6 Dec 2013

Fishermen welcome Maui's dolphin court case

10:50 am on 6 December 2013

Taranaki fishermen are welcoming a court case being brought by an environmental group over new fishing restrictions intended to protect the critically endangered Maui's dolphin.

The restrictions extend a ban on using set nets by 350 square kilometres off the Taranaki coast.

The German conservation group, NABU International, says it will mount a legal challenge because the restrictions don't go far enough.

However, Egmont Seafoods says it expects a judge will find the rules are too restrictive and that group has presented misleading information to the International Whaling Commission.

It says there is a lack of evidence that Maui's dolphin even live in the waters off Taranaki.