US Court Orders Ban on NZ Seafood Exports over Māui Dolphin Case
November 29, 2022
PHOTO: SEA SHEPHERD/SUPPLIED to Stuff
Conservationist group Sea Shepherd had asked the US Court of International Trade to bring in a ban, arguing a lack of action by the New Zealand government to protect critically endangered Māui dolphins. There are only around 50 left.
Under US law, an import ban can kick in if the court agrees a country is not applying similar protections to those in place in their waters.
Sea Shepherd filed the lawsuit in 2020, against the US Department of Commerce, Department of Homeland Security, NOAA Fisheries, and the Treasury Department. The New Zealand government joined the US defendants in fighting the case.
A judge in the New York court ruled in Sea Shepherd’s favour on Tuesday morning (NZT), issuing an injunction on those exports.
The ban could cost up to $2m a year in exports of fish from Māui habitat.