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The commercial fishing industry has won a High Court ruling to put some Government fishing bans - aimed at protecting rare dolphins - on hold.
Proposed bans have temporarily been lifted for fishermen off some areas of the west coast of the North Island, the Marlborough Sounds and at Te Waewae Bay in Southland.
The decision, in the High Court at Wellington, means most bans on set netting, drift netting and trawling around the rest of the country will still go ahead.
The bans, put forward in May, were meant to come into force on Wednesday to help protect Hector's and Maui's dolphins.
The Federation of Commercial Fishermen and a number of fishing companies challenged the restrictions, saying they would cost jobs in areas where the dolphins were never seen. The federation did not want to harm the dolphins but sought seasonal relief where jobs were under immediate threat.
The challenge was criticised by conservation groups. Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton today said he was deeply disappointed with the decision and he was seeking advice on the implications of the judgment.
He said commercial fishers were prepared to put some of the world's rarest dolphins at risk, as well as compromising the industry's credibility as a sustainable industry.
- NZPA
