Conservation Minister Nick Smith and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy have announced a government proposal to ban shark finning in New Zealand waters.
“Our attitude to sharks has come a long way since the Jaws days of ‘the only good shark being a dead shark’,” said Dr Smith. “This ban on finning is an important step towards improving shark conservation.”
The announcement was made at the Wellington's Island Bay Marine Education Centre this afternoon, after which, the ministers put on waterproof gear and waded into the bay with three carpet sharks, before releasing them and herding them into open water.
The Government proposal will be out for public consultation until December and would take effect over the next two years.