There’s only five days left to make a submission on seabed mining.
Matt Watson – image supplied
Matt Watson, of the ITM fishing show, has this message for you:
“The sea floor is vital for the survival of the marine ecosystem, and the health of our oceans, so it needs to be protected. There are people who want to mine it, to scrape it all up, and it will have a hugely negative effect, so we can’t stand by and let it happen.
“I don’t want to be one of those people that have to explain to their children and grandchildren that it was our generation that stood by and did nothing while our way of life was destroyed. That’s why I’ve made a submission and why I think you should too, and everyone should get behind that great group of kiwis that are really fighting to protect that seabed: KASM.”
Matt has joined the likes of former All Black Josh Kronfeld and surfer Dave Rastovich in opposing the application by seabed miner Trans Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in the South Taranaki Bight for 20 years.
Recreational fishing organisation LegaSea has also thrown its weight behind our cause, and is working with its members to get as many submissions as possible.
We stopped this company before, and we can stop them again. With only five days to go until the end of the public submission period, it’s important to make your submission now, here – it will only take a few minutes.
If you feel deeply about this issue, we encourage you to speak at the hearings (probably late November or early December) – so be sure to tick that box.
Two years ago thousands of you said no to seabed mining, and we were heard. The EPA refused the miners on the grounds that not enough was known about the potential impact on the ocean environment.
The company has persuaded the EPA to let them keep a very important section of its information under wraps. This includes vital information about the environmental effects to the marine environment of the mining. We believe the public has a right to see this information, so we are challenging this in the Environment Court. Like our Facebook page to keep updated.
If you’ve already made a submission, then please spread the word – tell your friends – forward them this email and make sure everybody has had their say.
Every submission counts!
Join us in saying no to seabed mining – we have until Friday to get as many voices as possible against this destructive practice.
Want to do more to help? check out our list of suggestions here.
