Ridler’s record swim for marine life

Back in January, long-distance swimmer Jono Ridler took to the waves at the tip of the North Island to begin a 1367km-long swim to Wellington harbour. Having finally arrived this week [April 4th], he was greeted by cheering crowds before walking to Parliament to meet with Conservation Minister Tama Potaka. 

Ridler’s big swim was about more than just setting a new world record for the longest unassisted staged swim however. The 36-year-old’s mammoth effort was undertaken to call for an end to bottom trawling, a controversial fishing practice that sees heavy nets dragged along the seafloor. While this may certainly be an effective method of scooping up fish, critics say it causes severe damage to vulnerable marine ecosystems. 

Advocacy group Live Ocean, which helped organise Ridler’s swim, is currently hosting a petition on their website which calls for the government to outlaw trawling on seamounts, underwater landforms which play a crucial role in supporting marine life, by the end of 2027. Along with this, they’re also pushing for a general transition away from the practice completely. 

The initial target for the petition was just 50,000 signatures, but it has gone well beyond that already and is still climbing, and is not due to be presented to parliament until later this month. While the government is yet to take an official position on the call, it should be noted that Minister Potaka was highly complementary about its goals:

“Jono Ridler is a superhuman. He’s out there fighting for the health of the oceans and the health of the people…The petition will be presented and then it will be considered accordingly.”

While the upcoming election might delay any immediate action on banning bottom trawling, Ridler’s swim, and the support it received, shows there clearly is some level of backing for a crackdown on the practice.

Photo byAnt RozetskyonUnsplash