Sealord's whaling link 'could harm NZ stand'

Environmentalists are warning that New Zealand's strong anti-whaling reputation is being damaged because the country's largest seafood company - Sealord - is half-owned by a Japanese whaling company.

The concerns come amid rising conflict in the Southern Ocean and criticisms of Japanese whalers last week by Conservation Minister Chris Carter.

On Saturday a Greenpeace protester was flung into the water after an inflatable boat driven between harpooners and a whale became entangled in a harpoon line, sparking new accusations of blame yesterday.

The Japanese-based Institute of Cetacean Research accused Greenpeace of using "dangerous stunts" to get publicity, in a press release issued by its New Zealand-based communications company Omeka.

Omeka director Glen Inwood also works for Te Ohu Kaimoana, the sole voting shareholder in Aotearoa Fisheries (AFL), which owns a 50 per cent shareholding in Sealord.

One environmental group - US-based Earth Island Institute - is calling for a boycott of Sealord's products until it severs ties with Japanese company Nissui - which bought the other 50 per cent of Sealord shares in 2001.

Nissui is a major shareholder in whaling fleets now whaling in the Southern Ocean, including the ship Nisshin Maru which made world headlines last week after Greenpeace accused it of deliberately ramming its vessel, Arctic Sunrise.

Greenpeace whales campaigner Pia Mancia said the group had voiced its concerns about Nissui's stake in Sealord with the company's top executives.

"New Zealanders are among the world's strongest opponents of commercial whaling. We are concerned, as we believe many New Zealanders would be, that an iconic New Zealand company like Sealord should have a close connection to a large commercial whaling operation."

Ms Mancia said Sealord had the chance to do the right thing by persuading Nissui - which also cans and distributes whale meat - to get out of whaling.

Greens leader Jeanette Fitzsimons has raised concerns in Parliament that New Zealand's excellent standing at the International Whaling Commission could be compromised by Nissui's half-ownership of Sealord.

Sealord chief executive Doug McKay told the Herald that Sealord was in no way involved with Nissui's whaling operation.

"We have communicated the strength of feeling within New Zealand about whaling, we have communicated it unequivocally. They [Nissui] are in no doubt or misunderstanding of the view of people in New Zealand about whaling."

Earth Island Institute associate director Mark Berman said by not buying Sealord products, consumers could put pressure on the company to sever ties with Nissui.

"The consumer needs to be aware of the fact that Sealord products are indirectly funnelling money back to the whalers."

Mr Berman said Sealord promoted itself as a dolphin-friendly company, but he said that was not true.

"We want the consumer to know that when you have a parent company killing marine mammals, you cannot be dolphin- safe."

AFL chief executive Robin Hapi said Earth Island was being reckless.

A boycott would hurt AFL - which manages much of the Treaty of Waitangi fisheries settlement on behalf of Maori - just as much, or more, than it would hurt Nissui.

"You can't promote a boycott against products of a company which is 50 per cent- owned by indigenous people and think that those threats will not have an impact on them."

AFL did not condone commercial whaling in any form, he said.

Mr Carter said he was not worried about Nissui's connections with Sealord, because Sealord had not expressed support for the whaling

Meanwhile, Labour MP Shane Jones, who remains the chairman of Te Ohu Kaimoana, despite becoming an MP in November, has several times refused to comment to the Herald about the whaling issue, including whether he supports the Government's position on whaling or whether he believes it is consistent with Te Ohu's policy on whaling.

Ms Mancia said the Greenpeace boat Arctic Sunrise was carrying out its standard practice of operating as a shield between the harpoons and the whale when the protester was flung overboard.

"It was an unfortunate incident but he's fine now. They're a bit shaken up, but they're okay and they are just regrouping again," he said. "We are pulling back to defuse the tension for the safety of our crew. But we'll continue to stay there as long as we can."

- additional reporting Ruth Berry