Exemption From Requirements Relating to Purse Seine Nets Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978 1. Pursuant to section 17 (2) of the Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978 Sanford Limited (a duly incorporated company having its registered office at Auckland) together with its employees and its vessels: San Tortugas, San Columbia, F.V. Lindberg, Western Ranger and Waihola are exempted, except as set out in clause 2 herein, from the requirements of section 17 (1) (a) of that Act which provides that no person shall use any purse seine net for the purposes of fishing unless that person has in the net an escape panel or aperture from which any dolphin or porpoise can readily escape. 2. This exemption does not apply to any purse seine net used in fishing operations targeting yellowfin tuna. 3. This exemption is subject to the following conditions: (a) All interactions with marine mammals during fishing operations conducted under the authority of this exemption must be reported in writing to the Director-General within 7 days of returning to port, whether or not any marine mammals are injured or killed during the course of fishing operations. (b) This exemption is valid for 5 years from the publication of this notice unless sooner revoked or varied by the Director-General in writing or by verbal instruction. (c) The vessels must abandon a net set if marine mammals are seen to be encircled by the vessels' nets. (d) This authority is not to be assigned or transferred to any body or vessel. Dated at Wellington this 26th day of January 1999. HUGH LOGAN, Director-General of Conservation.