BEYOND OUR SHORES

Forest and Bird, Issue 147, 1 February 1963, Page 28

BEYOND OUR SHORES

Protection of the indigenous fauna and flora of New Zealand is of course the reason for our existence as an organised body. It is our special concern it should be the concern of all New Zealanders because our country’s welfare is involved in it. It is, however, of concern not only to New Zealanders, but also to other peoples throughout the civilised world; for here there is a fauna and flora of a character and beauty not found anywhere else on earth. If any of it is lost it is a loss not restricted to New Zealand but to all those in other lands who have an interest in nature.

In like manner we have an interest and some responsibility for the protection of nature beyond our shores. Throughout the world many national and international organisations are working for nature conservation, and our Society exchanges literature and cor-

responds with many of them, including the United Kingdom, Australia, South Africa, the United States, Canada, Poland, Russia, and China. We receive bulletins regularly from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (with headquarters now in Switzerland), the International Council for Bird Preservation (office in London), F.A.O. headquarters (Rome), and the World Wildlife Fund (headquarters London). At the request of the lUCN we have urged our Government to ratify the 1954 convention for the prevention of pollution of the seas by oil, and also to take every possible step to secure the protection and preservation of Antarctic fauna, which is of particular interest to New Zealand. On these subjects the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Keith Holyoake, C.H., recently wrote to us as follows:

“As you will know, the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil was signed by New Zealand on 11 August, 1954, but has not yet been ratified by the Government. At the time of signing, the Government made it clear that it recognised that New Zealand has an obligation to cooperate with other countries in seeking a permanent solution to the problem of high-seas oil pollution, but indicated also that our remote and insular geographical position and similar factors made it difficult in New Zealand conditions to justify or repay the cost of installations of the type prescribed by the convention.

“In addition, the problem of pollution of the high seas by oil is not one which has significantly affected New Zealand. Pollution, where it has occurred, has been confined almost wholly to the escape of oil from ships berthed in New Zealand ports, and both public opinion and penalties under the applicable legislation have proved an adequate deterrent to offenders.

“I can, however, assure you that the New Zealand Government has taken a continuing interest in the convention, and, as recently as the current year, arrangements were made for an observer from the New Zealand High Commission to take full note of the detailed discussions at the 1962 London conference on amendments to the 1954 convention. Information obtained from the conference and from other sources will be taken into account in determining whether the Government might eventually be able to proceed to the stage of ratification, notwithstanding the difficulties which I have outlined above. A factor which will certainly be taken into account is the long-term desirability of obtaining as many ratifications as possible to the convention in the interests of preserving marine and bird life in . all parts of the world.

“New Zealand biologists who have been operating in Antarctica since the 1956-57 season have plans to expand their programme of work during the 1962-63 season. Two biologists from the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research are working there, as well as a party from Canterbury University.

“The Antarctic Division biologists are completing a five-season study of Adelie penguins

and McCormack skuas at Hallett. This intensive research on population dynamics, breeding cycle, etc., will determine by comparison wi.th rookeries at Cape Adare and Cape Royds the effects of man’s intrusion and future trends of a penguin rookery. The two biologists will probably spend a month at the Cape Adare rookery of over 700,000 birds to complete a population survey.

“The Canterbury University party is pursuing biological studies of Adelie penguins and skua gulls at Cape Royds; they are also studying Emperor penguins at Cape Crozier. One biologist is working on a seal-population programme at McMurdo Sound.

“All biologists working in the Ross Dependency are enjoined to observe strictly the Rules of Conduct laid down at the First Consultative Meeting of the Antarctic Treaty and quoted in a letter of 1 September, 1961, from the Secretary of External Affairs to your Society. You are probably aware, however, that in order to feed the dog teams it is necessary to kill a number of seals periodically. This number is limited to the absolute minimum required to keep the dogs in good health and is controlled by a biologist working there so that the same animals may be used for biological specimens.

“A further measure to conserve fauna in the Antarctic carried out this year is the Americans’ agreement to transfer their helicopter landing site at Cape Royds to avoid disturbing the penguin colony there.”

We requested the ICBP to raise at its Tokio conference the question of the protection of migratory birds during their long flights, and an appeal has been made for international cooperation with that end in view.

The Editor regrets that, ozving to shortage of space, notes from branches and sections, as well as other material sent in for publication, has had to be held over until the May issue.