Application for a marine mammal permit by David Thomas
A marine mammal permit application by David Thomas to export a whalebone necklace has been approved.

Pursuant to section 5(5) of the Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978, and to a delegation from the Minister of Conservation, the Operations Manager, David Butt, Department of Conservation notifies that they have received a permit application from David Thomas to export a whalebone necklace.

Application details

Applicant: David Thomas
Application number: 121281-MAR
Permission type: Marine Mammal Protection Act
Summary of proposal: The application is to export a whalebone necklace titled “Wasekaseka” from Queenstown to Queensland Art Gallery, Australia. The item is made of a sperm whale jawbone, which originated from Scotland, Island of Foula, from a beached whale in 1994.

Application documents:

How to make a submission

Any person or organisation may make a submission in writing to the Director-General on the proposal.

Submissions closed 23 October 2025.

What happens next

After submissions close:

  1. DOC will analyse and consider all submissions and comments on the submissions.
  2. DOC will make a recommendation to the Minister of Conservation.
  3. The Minister of Conservation will make a decision on the application.

Decision

On 4 November 2025 a decision was made to approve this application in perpetuity