The Star: June 27, 2019

Concerns over plan
to protect dolphins
• By Jess Gibson
A MARINE animal expert
and the Black Cat Cruises
boss are concerned a
proposal to protect hector’s
dolphins across New
Zealand leaves the Akaroa
population at risk.
The Government’s 40-
page threat management
plan includes protection
measures for the dolphins,
which are
classified as
nationally
vulnerable
with an
estimated
population
of 15,700.
Liz Slooten
Proposed
commercial
and recreational set netting
and trawling restrictions
run north from Banks
Peninsula to Kaikoura,
south to Timaru, and offshore
up to 20 nautical
miles. But the additional
protection does not include
an area of sea around the
south-eastern side of Banks
Peninsula. Instead, the only
option is to maintain the
current restriction of four
nautical miles offshore in
that stretch.
Otago University zoology
professor Liz Slooten said
she has been scratching her
head over the gap in the
proposal.
Said Prof Slooten: “What
they seem to have done is
gone to the areas where the
most dolphins are being
caught right now and
chosen to protect them and
not the areas where not
many dolphins are being
caught.
“The problem with that is,
if you close the areas to the
north and restrict fishing to
the south, people are going
to shift into that gap.”
Black Cat Cruises chief
executive Paul Milligan
said he is disappointed the
IN DANGER: The proposed expansion of setnetting
and trawling restrictions does not
include an area around Banks Peninsula which is
home to hector’s dolphins.
document has “left out an
area where people know
there are dolphins.”
A Fisheries New Zealand
spokesperson said there is
unlikely to be additional
displaced recreational set
netting given the existing
closures in place.
However, they did
not comment on
the commercial
activities.
“The proposals are
looking to extend
the current closures
further offshore
in areas within
Pegasus Bay and the
Canterbury Bight. They are
based on the best scientific
evidence available of the
risks to hector’s and maui
dolphins, which draws on a
range of new information,”
the spokesperson said.
The information includes
results from aerial surveys
of dolphin distribution
and abundance, revised
population and subpopulation
estimates,
new dolphin sighting
information from the
public and fisheries
observers, updated
captures from fisheries
observers and information
from the Department of
The Star Thursday June 27 2019
NEWS 15 ADVERTORIAL
Conservation’s necropsy
programme
Last month, Black Cat
Cruises commissioned a
study by Market Economics
to determine the value
of hector’s dolphins. It
found dolphin-related
eco-tourism brings
almost $25 million
into the New Zealand
economy each year,
with an additional
$3 million to $6
million in associated
tourism activities. It
Paul also found hector’s
Milligan dolphins sustain up
to 476 jobs in the
national economy.
Hector’s dolphin numbers
are estimated to have
decreased by about 74 per
cent over the past 30 years.
The National Institute of
Water and Atmospheric
Research estimates up to
100-150 hector’s and maui
dolphins are drowned in set
nets every year.
Public consultation on the
plan closes on August 4.
•To have your say, visit
www.fisheries.govt.nz/
news-and-resources/
consultations/hectorsand-maui-dolphinsthreat-managementplan-review/
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