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| Dear Friend, |
| The world's rarest dolphin is on the brink of extinction, but we're not going to lose the species without a fight. |
| With only 30 to 50 individuals left in the world, the treasured Māui dolphin’s very existence is threatened by the fishing industry on the West Coast of New Zealand’s North Island. While they’re not being targeted deliberately, the dolphins are getting tangled in large fishing nets and drowning as a result. |
| Earthjustice is going to court to protect the Māui dolphin, and we need your help. Please, take advantage of our end-of-year match offer to fund efforts like this one and preserve our planet’s precious biodiversity. |
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| Earlier this month, Earthjustice filed a lawsuit on behalf of a New Zealand environmental group in the U.S. Court of International Trade, referencing the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act. This law requires the U.S. government to ban seafood imports from any foreign fishery that excessively harms marine mammals. |
| Fishing companies in Northern New Zealand are unintentionally catching and killing the Māui dolphins while they’re casting nets to catch commercial fishing species. Even if the dolphins are freed before they drown, they can suffer severe injuries from being unable to surface for air for too long. |
| Earthjustice is determined to wield the power of the law to make sure the United States is not contributing to the rapid decline and potential extinction of the Māui dolphin. In 2022, the U.S. Court of International Trade banned some New Zealand exports because of their harm to Māui dolphins. That ban was lifted earlier this year. We are in court to put that ban back in place because the Māui dolphin population continues to decline. |
| In the last 50 years, the Māui dolphin population has declined by 97%. We must act now to save this species from extinction. |
| Earthjustice represents our clients free of charge in every case, including this one, thanks to our incredible community of supporters. |
| If you’re able, this is a fantastic time to make your year-end gift. A group of dedicated Earthjustice supporters is helping us reach our end-of-year goal by matching your contribution $2:$1, or your first monthly gift $3:$1. |
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| Thank you for all your time, energy, and generous support this year. We’re glad to have you in our corner as we look to the fights ahead. |
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In partnership,
Natalie Barefoot,
Senior Attorney,
Earthjustice Oceans Program |
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