Today, the death knell rang for Māui and Hector’s dolphins at Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s electorate office. Evidence shows the dolphins’ extinction is nigh without their protection from the fishing industry.
Māui and Hector’s Dolphin Defenders, Aotearoa’s only charity solely dedicated to keeping these dolphins from extinction, is demanding Prime Minister Luxon protect Hector’s dolphins throughout their range. The fishing industry has killed at least 15 Hector’s since PM Luxon took office almost a year ago.
These 15 deaths are evidenced by the charity’s mortality tracker, an ‘extinction watch tool’ that records deaths listed on the Department of Conservation (DoC) Māui and Hector’s Dolphin Incident Database. It only includes dolphin data that has been reported and uses DoC and Fisheries NZ official information.
Until the rollout of cameras onboard fishing vessels, very few dolphin bycatch deaths were reported by the fishing industry. Cameras are still only capturing limited evidence from trawlers and set-netters. There are only 25/154 set-netting boats currently carrying cameras, and little review of camera footage. Trawlers can fish less than two nautical miles from shore, key Hector’s habitat. Reported dolphin deaths will inevitably rise further when cameras go live on all remaining trawl vessels on 03/12/24.
Māui and Hector’s Dolphin Defenders’ Chair, Christine Rose, says:
“The evidence is clear, Māui and Hector’s dolphins are on the wave to extinction if Prime Minister Luxon does not take action now. More talks, more undeclared dinners, more reporting and more evidence on top of evidence, will not change the bottom line that these iconic dolphins need protection, throughout their range, from the fishing industry now. Any further delay in setting protective policy measures will be the death knell for more dolphins.
“The Prime Minister needs to demonstrate leadership now with an exclusion zone of 20nm and 100m deep. This extinction event is happening on his watch; failing not only these unique dolphins but all NZers, future generations and international biodiversity obligations. New Zealand cannot afford to lose any more Māui and Hector’s due to recalcitrants in the fishing industry and in government.
Māui and Hector’s dolphins previously survived in New Zealand’s coastal waters for millennia. Now there are only around 48 Māui, and some of the Hector’s dolphin subpopulations are even lower. Otago has only around 41 Hector’s dolphins left, and in Queen Charlotte Sound there are only around 40 remaining.
Māui and Hector’s Dolphin Defenders will visit NZ beaches this summer as part of a public roadshow to highlight the number of deaths mounting up under this “lacklustre-Luxon-led coalition government” and demand their protection.