In Napier, our team were pretty overwhelmed by the response received at the slideshow - we were asked some good questions and received plenty of support. It was great to see so many people take extra postcards so they could tell friends and family about the campaign as well. We had some really interesting conversations after the slideshow and we'd really like to thank everyone that came along.
And despite some unusual inclement in Napier, we talked to a lot of people on our stall in Napier, including some local fishers who once again confirmed the stories of deep sea devastation we've been hearing around the country

In London, pressure has been building on Ben Bradshaw from the United Kingdom's Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The UK currently holds the Presidency of the European Union and as such, Mr Bradshaw is in a unique position to lead the EU into adopting a pro-moratorium stance at the United Nations. Similarly Joe Borg as the European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime affairs is well placed to champion a moratorium and protection for life in the deep sea.

Greenpeace and others from the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition have been calling on people all over the world to, quite literally, draw their attention to the plight of deep sea life.

Remember the old Etch-a-Sketch? Well, this is an online version that is a fun way of helping save the creatures of the deep. It's a great way for kids to get involved in the campaign and its kinda fun for us adults as well! Cick here to draw your creature

Meanwhile in New York, home of the United Nations, there has been flurry of activity as UN General Assembly fisheries negotiations got underway. A few days ago, Dr Jeffrey Sachs , Director of the UN Millennium Project Task Force on Environmental Sustainabilility and Special Advisor to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, hosted a special meeting to discuss the what scientists describe as the most destructive fishing practice in use today.

At that meeting Dr Sachs, and fellow pre-eminent scientists, Dr. Ellen K. Pikitch and Dr Sylvia Earle launched an appeal for countries to find a way through the political stalemate that prevented a moratorium at last years UNGA. They said it was important that countries recognise that "an immediate suspension of bottom trawling can prevent irreversible harm to the largest, most biologically diverse area of the planet" and that "not only do countries have the opportunity , but also an obligation to suspend bottom trawling on the high seas now."

Certainly sounds to me like common sense from the science community.

As is so often the way with campaigns such as this, every contribution helps. Whether it is in the international political arena or on the streets of provincial New Zealand, every bit of pressure helps - and especially if it leads to our Government doing the right thing and leading the growing charge for a UN moratorium.

You can read more about what's happening around the world here