Famine is declared in Gaza by the United Nations. The FBI are raiding thte home and office of a former national security advisor to Donald Trump.
Three Greenpeace activists have been arrested after boarding a fishing trawler at Nelson Port this morning.
Two protestors scaled the Talley’s factory trawler vessel Amaltal Columbia at Port Nelson, with one climbing the stern and unfurling a banner reading “ocean killer”.
Tasman District Police confirmed they were called to theport shortly after 8am.
“Police recognise the lawful right to protest, however [we] cannot condone activities which put members of the public and our staff at risk,” the police said.
They confirmed that in total three people were arrested.
A 50-year-old woman and a 45-year-old man are due to appear on Monday in the Dunedin District Court, while a 52-year-old man is due to appear in the Wellington District Court.
Tasman District Police responded to the Greenpeace protest on the Amaltal Columbia at Nelson Port. Photo / Greenpeace
All are facing charges of unlawfully being in an enclosed area, police said.
Greenpeace Aotearoa said the action targeted Talley’s because of its record of bottom trawling in New Zealand, Australia and international waters.
“Faced with a ruthless fishing industry that profits from trashing the ocean, and a Government that condones bottom trawling, these brave activists took a stand,” Greenpeace spokesman Juan Parada said.
Greenpeace activists occupied Talley’s bottom trawler, Amaltal Columbia, stopping it from leaving port on Saturday. Photo / Greenpeace
Parada described bottom trawling as “an incredibly destructive method of fishing that has no place on vulnerable habitats”.
“When trawlers drag their heavy nets along the seafloor and over seamounts, they bulldoze everything in their path, turning precious coral into rubble and killing sharks, fur seals and seabirds as collateral – it must stop.”
Greenpeace has staged similar actions in recent years, including painting “ocean killer” on other trawlers on the Chatham Rise and blocking the Amaltal Atlantis in Nelson in 2022.
Talley’s general manager of fishing Leon Moore said Greenpeace had “once again” behaved with no regard to health and safety when the individuals boarded the trawler.
“Our vessels are working environments and everyone on board are authorised workers who have undergone the proper health and safety training,” he said.
“By coming on board in the manner that they did, they put themselves at risk, and even though it has not disrupted our operations, it was a concerning distraction.
“As always, we respect the right to protest, but not when people’s safety is put at risk.”
Ben Tomsett is a multimedia journalist based in Dunedin. He joined the Herald in 2023.
