Posted on April, 05 2002
In the last year alone, six North Island Hector's dolphins are known to have drowned and, although determining the precise cause is difficult, the deaths are likely to have been caused by fishing nets. With a population of only 100 or so, more than one human-induced dolphin death every five years will prevent the species from recovering to viable population levels. Last August, New Zealand's Minister of Fisheries banned commercial and recreational set netting within most of the dolphin's range. However following a challenge by fishers, this ban was recently overturned in the High Court and set netting has resumed.
"Clearly, the North Island Hector's dolphin is headed for extinction unless the government does something dramatic to prevent it," said Chris Howe, Director of Conservation at WWF-New Zealand. "Even though the fishers are putting intense pressure on the government to weaken its ban, we are calling on the Fisheries Minister to resist and instead take urgent action to ensure the total protection of North Island Hector's dolphins."
Following the High Court's overturning of the ban on netting in the dolphin's range, the New Zealand government has said it will announce new measures within two months. WWF believes that as a priority, the government must ensure that the entire habitat of the North Island Hector's dolphin is closed to commercial and recreational set net fisheries. Both set netting and pair trawling must be banned within four nautical miles of shore, including in harbours, and a marine mammal sanctuary must be established covering the dolphin's entire range. In addition, a species recovery plan urgently needs to be developed and implemented. WWF today launched an internet campaign to encourage the New Zealand government to take these actions, and hopes to generate thousands of messages to Minister of Fisheries, Hon. Pete Hodgson, from people around the world.
"North Island Hector's dolphins are internationally significant, not just a national icon. New Zealand prides itself on being clean, green, and environmentally friendly, and must not let a small number of fishers have the right of way when deciding the future of this critically endangered dolphin. WWF believes that alternatives must be explored with the fishing community, but the immediate priority is to stop any more dolphins from being drowned in nets," Mr. Howe added.
Living close to the shore of the northwest coast of New Zealand's North Island, North Island Hector's dolphins are notoriously slow breeders. Female dolphins only have four calves in their 20-year life span. The first calf is usually born when the female is 7 to 9 years old, and they then calve again every 2 to 4 years. The dolphins live in small family groups, rarely swimming more than 30 kilometres from their place of birth. Netting, while currently the major threat to these dolphins, is compounded by other human-induced threats such as pollution, collisions with boats, and effects on food sources.
For further information:
Kyla Evans
WWF International
E-mail: kevans@wwfint.org
Megan Huber
WWF-New Zealand
E-mail: megan.huber@wwf.org.nz