An Easter Island fisherman is calling on the New Zealand government to help protect the Rapa Nui fishery, which he says is being plundered by foreign fishing vessels.
Kuchy Pakarati is part of a Rapa Nui delegation to New Zealand raising awareness about exploitation of the Chilean territory’s fish stocks.
He says over-fishing is starting to affect the islanders’ traditional way of life.
Mr Pakarati says that the Chilean Government has limited resources to patrol their waters, and Rapa Nui people are looking for help internationally.
He says traditional methods of conserving fish stocks are being violated with foreign fishers showing blatant disregard for locals who depend on the ocean to sustain them.
Radio New Zealand International