Greens launch petition to save Pacific tuna

The Green Party is launching a petition calling on the Government to take urgent action to halt the over-exploitation of the Pacific's tuna fisheries.

Greens conservation spokeswoman Metiria Turei said that today more than 4000 large foreign fishing vessels were plundering the Pacific.

"Technological advances mean large ships can catch as many fish in two days as a small Pacific nation can in a year. With tuna stocks decreasing in other oceans, more and more ships are moving into the Pacific. These practices are not sustainable," Ms Turei said.

The petition calls on MPs to actively support the establishment of marine reserves in the international waters of the Pacific.

- NZPA