Campaign update
Latest news
2012
March: A new population estimate for Maui's dolphins was released by the Department of Conservation. Their abundance is now estimated at 55 individuals over the age of 1 year (with a 95% confidence interval of 48-69). WWF contributed the 0800 4 MAUIS sightings data to the Department in order to better inform the Minister of their complete distribution. We are also calling on immediate action from the Minister of Conservation and Minister for Primary Industries to implement the emergency measures under the Fisheries Act and fully protect the dolphins across their entire known range, including Taranaki waters and inside harbours. Currently the government has proposed interm protection measures (extending the set net ban and the marine mammal sanctuary along the Taranaki coast from Pariokariwa Point south to Hawera) while the review of the Hector's and Maui's Threat Management Plan is being fast-tracked. The submission deadline on these interm protection measures is April 11th (MAF) and April 27th (DOC).
February: Two dead Hector's dolphins entangled in a fishing net were reported washed up on a north Cantebury beach, near the Wainmakariri river, by a member of the public. Because of the existing set net ban out to 4 nautical miles on the east coast of the South Island, it appears that the incident may be the result of illegal fishing activity and MAF have initiated an investigation. However, WWF continue to believe that current protection measures are insufficient and are calling on a complete ban of set nets in New Zealand.
January: A fisherman reported a dead Hector's dolphin as bycatch accidently killed by a fishing net off the coast of Taranaki, outside the currently protected area on the West coast of the North Island. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) released a statement saying they believe that the dead animal was a Maui’s, not a Hector’s dolphin as originally reported, because of the location of its death. The dead dolphin was returned to the sea by the fisher, as was normal practice. This unfortunate incident illustrates the previously ignored arguements that set net restrictions need to be immediately extended into the critically endangered dolphin's natural and historical range in order to give them the best chance of survival.
February: Two dead Hector's dolphins entangled in a fishing net were reported washed up on a north Cantebury beach, near the Wainmakariri river, by a member of the public. Because of the existing set net ban out to 4 nautical miles on the east coast of the South Island, it appears that the incident may be the result of illegal fishing activity and MAF have initiated an investigation. However, WWF continue to believe that current protection measures are insufficient and are calling on a complete ban of set nets in New Zealand.
January: A fisherman reported a dead Hector's dolphin as bycatch accidently killed by a fishing net off the coast of Taranaki, outside the currently protected area on the West coast of the North Island. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) released a statement saying they believe that the dead animal was a Maui’s, not a Hector’s dolphin as originally reported, because of the location of its death. The dead dolphin was returned to the sea by the fisher, as was normal practice. This unfortunate incident illustrates the previously ignored arguements that set net restrictions need to be immediately extended into the critically endangered dolphin's natural and historical range in order to give them the best chance of survival.
Help the dolphins’ survival
You can help ensure the dolphins’ survival by visiting WWF-New Zealand’s "Stop their Extinction" campaign website or facebook page.
Report any sightings of Maui's dolphins. The more we learn about where these dolphins live, the better we will be able to protect them.
Adopt a Hector's dolphin and support our work to protect Hector’s and Maui’s dolphins.
Report any sightings of Maui's dolphins. The more we learn about where these dolphins live, the better we will be able to protect them.
Adopt a Hector's dolphin and support our work to protect Hector’s and Maui’s dolphins.
2011
October: A dead Maui's dolphin washed up in Manukau Harbour. The cause of the adult female's death was unclear, although Otago University zoologist, Liz Slooten, said human intervention was definitely involved. The dolphin was found on shore on October 26th, on an isolated patch of coastline some way inside the harbour.
July: The Department of Conservation (DOC) released a new population estimate for Maui's dolphins based on DNA profiling. DOC's last population survey was in 2004 — this reported between 48 and 252 Maui's dolphins, with a 95% confidence interval, which provided the previous estimate of 111 individual Maui's.
March: The Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture announced his decision to extend a net fishing restriction for more areas of the critically endangered Maui's habitat, but he allowed set net fishing to go ahead in Hector's dolphin habitat. The Minister advised that the (still draft) Threat Management Plan 2008 will be reviewed in 2013.
July: The Department of Conservation (DOC) released a new population estimate for Maui's dolphins based on DNA profiling. DOC's last population survey was in 2004 — this reported between 48 and 252 Maui's dolphins, with a 95% confidence interval, which provided the previous estimate of 111 individual Maui's.
March: The Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture announced his decision to extend a net fishing restriction for more areas of the critically endangered Maui's habitat, but he allowed set net fishing to go ahead in Hector's dolphin habitat. The Minister advised that the (still draft) Threat Management Plan 2008 will be reviewed in 2013.
Campaign history
The New Zealand Government first formally recognised that Hector’s dolphins were under threat in 1999. Maui’s dolphins were recognised as a distinct subspecies in 2002, and we realised just how few remained.
Since then, WWF-New Zealand has been campaigning for both Hector's and Maui's dolphins to have the protection they need to stop the species' decline and let them recover in their former natural range.
Many gains have been made but the campaign is not over – the dolphins are not yet sufficiently protected. More work is needed.
2004: Call to action
In 2004, WWF-New Zealand led a Conservation Challenge, asking the Government to ensure the dolphins get the protection they need to ensure they survive and recover back into areas where they once would have lived.
More than four years of sustained campaigning followed. In November 2007, we were on the steps of Parliament presenting a petition signed by more than 32,500 people, calling on the Government to stop the extinction of Hector’s and Maui’s dolphins.
2008: New protection measures announced
After many years of sustained campaigning, a breakthrough finally came in May 2008, when the Government announced new protection for Hector’s and Maui’s dolphins. From 1 October 2008, the main human threats to Hector’s and Maui’s survival - set net and trawl fishing – would be restricted in more of the dolphins’ habitat. As well, the Government announced 4 new marine mammal sancturies would be established.
The new protection meant fewer dolphins were likely to die in fishing nets, but was not enough to allow the species to recover. Population modelling by Hector’s dolphin scientists found the new measures would at best stop the decline, and, at worst, allow the total Hector’s population to decline further. They would not allow the species, classified on the World Conservation Union’s (IUCN) Red List as ‘endangered’, to recover and they would remain vulnerable to extinction.
The situation was no better for Maui’s dolphins. With an estimate of just 111 individuals, holding their numbers static was not enough. WWF-New Zealand continued to campaign for a total ban on all human threats throughout the dolphins' range, including set net and trawl fishing, to allow the dolphins to begin their slow recovery.
2008: Judicial review
Any celebrations were cut short when the fishing industry won a High Court interim injunction on the Minister of Fisheries' measures. The industry also sought a judicial review hearing, alleging the Minister did not base his decisions on the best available information, as required by the Fisheries Act 1996. In the meantime, the injunction allowed fishers to keep using some of their existing fishing practices.
Given a 2008 report by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), that the dolphin death rate due to fishing was 110-150 animals each year in set nets alone, WWF-New Zealand and others campaigning for the dolphins were very concerned that many more dolphins would die in commercial set nets, while the fishers' action progressed through the High Court.
2010: Decision released
Although the Wellington High Court's decision on the judicial revew was expected in mid-2009, it was not released until February 2010. The Court upheld 4 of the 6 original restrictions set by the Minister of Fisheries, and referred 2 back to the Minister for reconsideration, The Ministry of Fisheries (MFish) produced a position paper which received 1661 submissions.
WWF-New Zealand thanks everyone who made their views heard on this important consultation. A summary of the Ministry's consultation paper and an analysis of the key points can be found here.
In the meantime, in January, the Environment Court had
made positive recommendations to then Conservation Minister, Tim Groser, on a proposal from Crest Energy to generate electricity from a tidal power station in Kaipara Harbour, Maui's dolpin habitat. The Environment Court also said that the proposal needed further work to satisfy concerns about the turbines interfering with the critically endangered Maui's dolphin.
Since then, WWF-New Zealand has been campaigning for both Hector's and Maui's dolphins to have the protection they need to stop the species' decline and let them recover in their former natural range.
Many gains have been made but the campaign is not over – the dolphins are not yet sufficiently protected. More work is needed.
2004: Call to action
In 2004, WWF-New Zealand led a Conservation Challenge, asking the Government to ensure the dolphins get the protection they need to ensure they survive and recover back into areas where they once would have lived.
More than four years of sustained campaigning followed. In November 2007, we were on the steps of Parliament presenting a petition signed by more than 32,500 people, calling on the Government to stop the extinction of Hector’s and Maui’s dolphins.
2008: New protection measures announced
After many years of sustained campaigning, a breakthrough finally came in May 2008, when the Government announced new protection for Hector’s and Maui’s dolphins. From 1 October 2008, the main human threats to Hector’s and Maui’s survival - set net and trawl fishing – would be restricted in more of the dolphins’ habitat. As well, the Government announced 4 new marine mammal sancturies would be established.
The new protection meant fewer dolphins were likely to die in fishing nets, but was not enough to allow the species to recover. Population modelling by Hector’s dolphin scientists found the new measures would at best stop the decline, and, at worst, allow the total Hector’s population to decline further. They would not allow the species, classified on the World Conservation Union’s (IUCN) Red List as ‘endangered’, to recover and they would remain vulnerable to extinction.
The situation was no better for Maui’s dolphins. With an estimate of just 111 individuals, holding their numbers static was not enough. WWF-New Zealand continued to campaign for a total ban on all human threats throughout the dolphins' range, including set net and trawl fishing, to allow the dolphins to begin their slow recovery.
2008: Judicial review
Any celebrations were cut short when the fishing industry won a High Court interim injunction on the Minister of Fisheries' measures. The industry also sought a judicial review hearing, alleging the Minister did not base his decisions on the best available information, as required by the Fisheries Act 1996. In the meantime, the injunction allowed fishers to keep using some of their existing fishing practices.
Given a 2008 report by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), that the dolphin death rate due to fishing was 110-150 animals each year in set nets alone, WWF-New Zealand and others campaigning for the dolphins were very concerned that many more dolphins would die in commercial set nets, while the fishers' action progressed through the High Court.
2010: Decision released
Although the Wellington High Court's decision on the judicial revew was expected in mid-2009, it was not released until February 2010. The Court upheld 4 of the 6 original restrictions set by the Minister of Fisheries, and referred 2 back to the Minister for reconsideration, The Ministry of Fisheries (MFish) produced a position paper which received 1661 submissions.
WWF-New Zealand thanks everyone who made their views heard on this important consultation. A summary of the Ministry's consultation paper and an analysis of the key points can be found here.
In the meantime, in January, the Environment Court had
made positive recommendations to then Conservation Minister, Tim Groser, on a proposal from Crest Energy to generate electricity from a tidal power station in Kaipara Harbour, Maui's dolpin habitat. The Environment Court also said that the proposal needed further work to satisfy concerns about the turbines interfering with the critically endangered Maui's dolphin.
WWF is grateful to over 32,500 people who signed our Stop Their Extinction petition to save Maui's and Hector's dolphins.
DOLPHIN BRIEFING FOR POLITICIANS
New Zealanders have made it clear they want Hector's and Maui's dolphins saved. We are asking politicians to use that mandate and take action now. Read more