Posted on January, 24 2003

Wellington, New Zealand - WWF congratulates New Zealand's Minister of Fisheries, Pete Hodgson, on his decision to ban set nets from inshore waters of the North Island’s upper west coast in order to protect the critically endangered Maui's dolphin. The decision follows a campaign by WWF since April last year to reverse a High Court ruling that overturned a previous ban on commercial set net fishing in the Maui's dolphin range. The Minister of Fisheries was deluged with thousands e-mails from concerned Panda Passport activists, who asked that set netting be banned throughout the dolphin's range. WWF also congratulates Minister Hodgson on immediately sending an e-mail alert about his decision to all Panda Passport holders who took part in this campaign. Maui’s dolphins — formerly known as North Island Hector's dolphins — are the world’s smallest and rarest marine dolphin. Set net fishing has severely depleted the population in the past few decades. In the last two years, six Maui’s dolphins have been found dead, with at least four deaths known to be caused by fishing. With a population of only one hundred or so, more than one human-induced dolphin death every five years will prevent the species from recovering to viable population levels. While WWF welcomes the ban on set nets, the organization has also called for protection of Maui's dolphin from trawl fishing and a full species recovery plan. “WWF welcomes the restriction on commercial and recreational set netting, however, the measures should go further,” said WWF-New Zealand Chief Executive Jo Breese. “We believe that trawling within the dolphin's range needs to be banned. We have been assured that fishers do not trawl within the dolphin’s range; however, sightings show this to be untrue. Therefore we must act as decisively as possible to save this species from extinction.” “We also welcome set netting restrictions into Manukau Harbour. However, there is a need to extend protection to all West Coast harbours, not just the Manukau, as Maui’s dolphins have been sighted in these harbours,” said Ms Breese. “WWF calls for decisive enforcement of the set net ban and a commitment to raise public awareness for the plight of the Maui’s dolphin. This dolphin will quickly disappear off the face of the Earth if New Zealanders don’t take urgent action to protect it,” added Ms Breese. For further information: Caren Schröder Marine Conservation Officer, WWF-New Zealand Tel: +64 4 499 2930 E-mail: caren.schroder@wwf.org.nz