The Japanese kill whales in the name of science. The Spanish kill bulls in the name of entertainment.

And we are outraged.

Last weekend a group of Auckland fishermen slaughter a beautiful 466kg monster blue marlin they pulled from the deep off Muriwai west of Auckland. All in the name of sport.

So what is the difference between the whales, the bulls and the marlin? They are all needlessly killed. And how can New Zealand be so sanctimonious to criticise others?

There was the obligatory photograph – this extraordinary creature dwarfing the boat it was caught from. Did it's size make it okay? Why wasn't it released – alive? Can anyone tell me why?

Possibly the second biggest blue marlin ever caught – wow! Contributing to almost a record would have made the fish feel better in its agonising death throes.

We learn the fishermen were 'stoked, over the moon, couldn't believe it.” I couldn't believe it either, but for very different reasons. How long did it take this fish to grow to 466kg? What was its contribution to the perpetuation of the species? And they killed it because they could.

Perhaps they are going to smoke and eat it. Is that any different to the Southern Ocean whale meat being served up in the sushi restaurants of Shizuoka Prefecture or buying it directly from a Japanese supermarket? So let's not get all indignant about Japanese harpoons. Let's clean up our own backyard.

I liked to think New Zealand had grown up a bit, had become more enlightened, had moved on from blood sports. I struggle with the fact that this hapless creature didn't stand a chance – the marlin struggled painfully to a point of exhaustion and was then killed.

Congratulations guys!

S Smith, Otumoetai.