[1] Joy is publicly outspoken about the decline in freshwater quality and ecosystems, especially the impact of nutrient pollution from intensive dairying on New Zealand's "100% Pure", clean, green image.

[2][3] Joy's Master's thesis, entitled Freshwater fish community structure in Taranaki: dams, diadromy or habitat quality?, was completed in 1999 and received first-class honours.

[4][5] This led to his PhD thesis, The development of predictive models to enhance biological assessment of riverine systems in New Zealand, submitted in 2003 and supervised by freshwater ecologist Russell Death, Robert McDowall and Brian Springett.

"[12] Controversial political blogger Cameron Slater initially wrote in support of The New York Times article, stating that it was a "serious problem" that over half of New Zealand's rivers were unsafe for swimming, and that dairy farmers should not be subsidised for polluting.

[14] Slater is also widely quoted as saying that "Joy should be taken out and shot at dawn for economic sabotage" and calling him a traitor,[2] but these words appear to be commentary from other authors published on his blog.

The Association particularly opposed the implication that the damage caused by Joy to New Zealand's international reputation and potential loss of tourists was of greater importance than "the need for truth in public debate".