Safety concerns end Greenpeace trawler protest

Greenpeace activists also targeted the Chang Xing in the Tasman Sea in June. Picture / Greenpeace

A Greenpeace protest against bottom trawling is over after two activists climbed down late this morning from the mast of a ship to which they has chained themselves in Nelson.

The pair were immediately arrested by police and driven off to Nelson Police Station.

Another protester was arrested earlier after chaining herself to a mooring rope aboard the Chinese high seas bottom trawler Chang Xing.

A Greenpeace spokeswoman said that the two came down from the mast voluntarily for safety reasons as it would have been a hazardous operation for police to have attempted to bring them down.

The activists boarded the trawler shortly after 7am today with the intention of preventing the Chang Xing leaving Port Nelson.

Greenpeace is calling for a UN moratorium on bottom trawling in international waters, saying bottom trawlers destroy " unique deep-sea life".

The group's spokeswoman said that the the protesters had managed to delay the departure of the trawler for a few hours.

The trawler is expected to leave Nelson later today.

Police refused to comment on the incident saying a statement would be issued later.

- NZPA