Extinction by Apathy

Maui and Hector’s dolphins are a small inshore coastal dolphin species found only in New Zealand. Their population has reduced from an estimated 30,000 Hector’s and 1800 Maui dolphins in the 1970s, to about 7000 Hector’s distributed in groups around the South Island, and about 55 North Island Maui, today.

Last week a decomposed adult female Hector’s Dolphin, and calf, were found killed in a recreational set-net near Nelson. Despite the fact that Maui and Hector’s dolphins are threatened with extinction, only parts of their habitat are protected, and in Nelson’s Tasman Bay, an important area for the survival of the species, they have no protection at all.

Earlier this year a Hector’s dolphin was also caught in a recreational set net at Raukokore in the Bay of Plenty, on the East Coast of the North Island, an area where this rarest of dolphins also lives, exposed to daunting pressures from trawl and set nets and other threats.

Maui and Hector’s dolphins live in coastal waters out to about 100m deep, in small subpopulations. Maui dolphins have become infamous, here and around the world, because their numbers are so low, and because of the Government’s failure to act sufficiently to save the species. Indeed internationally, New Zealand is condemned for its resistance to meaningful and comprehensive protection for the species across its range.

But despite claims from the Government that the Hector’s dolphin population is healthier than previously thought, Hector’s are all under threat and in decline. The healthiest Hector’s dolphin population, on the South Island’s West Coast has the least protection, with set netting and trawling allowed in most of its range. As a result, Hector’s dolphins continue to die avoidable deaths as bycatch, drowning in fishing gear banned in many countries around the world.

There’s an irony that Mexico has just banned set nets and bought out affected fishers to save their rare harbour dolphin, the Vaquita, but New Zealand is failing its own endemic, small, rare and lovely species. It’s no coincidence that Maui and Hector’s dolphins are among the rarest on the planet. But we’re being shown up by Mexico in the conservation stakes.

In order for Maui and Hector’s dolphins to survive as a species, all sub-populations need protecting throughout their full habitat, from the full range of human caused threats. Instead, the New Zealand Government is complacent and apathetic. They’ve delayed the review of the Hector’s Dolphins Threat Management Plan. They’ve done as little as possible while being seen to do something for Maui dolphins. Trawling still occurs in most of their habitat, and targets to improve trawl monitoring in 25% increments over four years have not been met. The Government has introduced new threats such as seismic testing (in the Marine Mammal Sanctuary no less), with the dolphins facing the busiest seismic season ever.

The Government added a small amount of protection for Maui’s dolphins in 2013, but Maui’s and Hector’s dolphins are still dying avoidably, around New Zealand. They’re the world’s rarest marine dolphins already, they should be safe. The answer is simple, ban set and trawl nets out to 100m deep, and save the dolphins. Anything else is negligent of a most beautiful dolphin, causing extinction by Government apathy.

Note: Christine Rose is employed as Kauri DieBack Community Co-ordinator in a contract role to the Auckland Council. All opinions expressed herein are Christine’s own. No opinion or views expressed in this blog or any other media, shall be construed as the opinion of the Council or any other organisation.