The Star: August 17, 2023
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<strong>The</strong> <strong>Star</strong> Thursday <strong>August</strong> <strong>17</strong> <strong>2023</strong><br />
16<br />
NEWS<br />
A TOURISM operator made<br />
the right call to pull the plug on<br />
plans to run wildlife tours which<br />
could put Hector’s dolphins at<br />
risk in Lyttelton Harbour, the<br />
Department of Conservation<br />
says.<br />
Christchurch company<br />
Jet Junkies applied to run<br />
jet ski-propelled boat tours<br />
to view marine mammals,<br />
including the nationally<br />
vulnerable species.<br />
But the company made the<br />
call to withdraw its application<br />
following a meeting with DOC<br />
staff, who raised concerns<br />
about the protection of Hector’s<br />
dolphins and how the tours<br />
could put them at further risk.<br />
Mahaanui operations<br />
manager Andy Thompson said<br />
DOC had planned to decline<br />
the application but no formal<br />
decision was made.<br />
“I think this application has<br />
really clarified our views in<br />
terms of the relationship between<br />
tourism activities and our native<br />
species, and Hector’s dolphins in<br />
this particular case.”<br />
Nationwide there are roughly<br />
15,700 Hector’s dolphins with<br />
about 5000 living around Banks<br />
Peninsula.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y already face challenges,<br />
including disturbances, habitat<br />
reduction, overfishing, water<br />
quality issues, bycatch risk,<br />
warming seas, toxoplasmosis and<br />
noise, Thompson said. Lyttelton<br />
is a busy harbour, which is<br />
already likely having an impact<br />
on Hector’s dolphins, he said.<br />
<strong>The</strong> application received<br />
more than 200 submissions, the<br />
majority of them opposed the<br />
proposal.<br />
“Research from nearby<br />
Akaroa Harbour indicates<br />
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz<br />
Wildlife tours canned to protect dolphins<br />
tourism activities impact<br />
Hector’s dolphins, and these<br />
are cumulative alongside the<br />
effects of other vessel traffic.<br />
Impacts could include changes<br />
to behaviour including changes<br />
to when and where dolphins are<br />
found in the harbour.<br />
“We do not think the<br />
conservation benefits from<br />
public education through<br />
ENDANGERED:<br />
A moratorium<br />
is in place<br />
for Akaroa<br />
Harbour, which<br />
prevents the<br />
Department of<br />
Conservation<br />
from granting<br />
any more<br />
permits or trips<br />
for Hector’s<br />
dolphin<br />
viewing.<br />
PHOTO: ROB<br />
PINE<br />
tourism outweigh the potential<br />
adverse effects of this proposal,<br />
especially given there are six<br />
existing dolphin tour operations<br />
in nearby Akaroa.”<br />
A moratorium remains in<br />
place for Akaroa Harbour, which<br />
prevents DOC from granting any<br />
more permits or trips for dolphin<br />
viewing or swimming.<br />
<strong>The</strong> moratorium will be<br />
reviewed by DOC and expires in<br />
2026. Thompson did not rule out<br />
it being extended or expanded to<br />
cover more area.<br />
“It’s more than likely that<br />
moratorium would be extended<br />
in timeframe but I think we<br />
should also consider whether<br />
or not that should be extended<br />
around the rest of the peninsula<br />
and into Lyttelton Harbour as<br />
well, which is pretty consistent<br />
with the marine mammals<br />
sanctuary that is currently in<br />
place.”<br />
He did not expect it would<br />
have much of an impact as there<br />
was only one operator doing<br />
occasional tours in Lyttelton<br />
Harbour.<br />
Thompson acknowledged<br />
Jet Junkies staff have worked<br />
constructively with DOC<br />
during the application process,<br />
including reducing the proposed<br />
number of daily trips and using a<br />
Sealver, or jet ski propelled boats,<br />
to ensure customers would not<br />
be operating jet skis near marine<br />
mammals.<br />
Jet Junkies chief executive<br />
Kevin Scovell thanked DOC staff<br />
for their work.<br />
“We will continue to operate<br />
our strict accidental discovery<br />
protocols around marine<br />
mammals while out on our<br />
existing jet ski tours.”<br />
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