| Fish & Game New Zealand
compliments Federated Farmers for working towards responsibility
for the adverse effects of intensive agriculture on New Zealand’s
freshwater during the Federation’s Freshwater Science Forum
which began on Tuesday 19 June.
The Federated Farmers hosted science forum for
primary sector leaders, government representatives, and scientists
will discuss research on water quality, and future directions for
research. Federated Farmers advise that the forum, on June 19 and
20 in Wellington, will see participants discuss the way forward
for the agricultural industry, and agree to outcomes and timeframes
to work towards.
“Fish & Game welcomes the Federations
initiative, and challenges the primary sector to take this opportunity
to agree on realistic targets and timeframes, and commit to achieving
them on the ground,” said Bryce Johnson, Chief Executive,
Fish & Game New Zealand. “We have had plenty of rhetoric
in the past, including ‘more education leads to voluntary
change’, and ‘the need for more research and development
of technical solutions’. This has been prevarication and denial
of responsibility. We know what the problem is and we know how to
fix it. We look forward to a commitment to implementing what we
already know.”
“New Zealanders will take a fresh and respectful
look at intensive agriculture if the forum generates real and positive
commitments within timeframes that recognise the urgency of the
situation and respects the wider public’s interest in clean
natural water.” |
