Bycatch limits in Hector's dolphin protection plan 'far too high', advocates say

Jeremiah Smith
Oct 12, 2022
4 min read

Check out this article on plans for protection of our local dolphins. This weekend we have finished some maintenance on Delight and will soon post our Dolphin counting expeditions in the sanctuary.

We found this map showing sightings of marine life and want to add some dots to it :

Here is a map of the sanctuary:

Check out the article here : https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/130146301/bycatch-limits-in-hectors-dolphin-protection-plan-far-too-high-advocates-say

Advocates are concerned new measures aimed at stopping the South Island’s vulnerable Hector’s dolphins ending up as fishing bycatch have increased the acceptable number of dolphin deaths in two parts of Canterbury, from Government’s original proposal.

On Wednesday, Oceans and Fisheries Minister David Parker unveiled three changes aimed at protecting the species, which will be implemented by the end of the year. It was the first time a fishing-related mortality limit has been applied to Hector dolphins.

The 2020 commercial and recreational set-net fishing ban area around Banks Peninsula will be further extended, and an extra 1100km² of South Island coastline will be closed to set-netting – protecting 17,600km² in total.

Trawl closures and gear restrictions will also cover more than 6900km² of coastline.

Parker said a new bycatch reduction plan would also be applied to all South Island Hector’s dolphin subpopulations.

While allowing fishing to continue, the plan had a mix of regulatory and voluntary measures to incentivise and support fishers to improve their practices and avoid “all Hector’s dolphin bycatch”, he said.

One of the smallest marine mammals in the world, Hector’s dolphins are only found in New Zealand’s waters and are considered nationally vulnerable, with a population of about 15,000.

Their North Island subspecies, the Māui dolphin, is critically endangered, with as few as 54 left.

“We need to work to reduce the number of these dolphins killed by fishing to as close to zero as possible”, Parker said.

“While current measures have been effective in significantly reducing the risks of dolphin deaths from fishing, more action is needed to protect populations throughout their natural range.”

Their key focus was on implementing a plan to reduce accidental catch of Hector’s dolphins in the long term, he said.

“[The plan] sets regulatory limits for bycatch so that I can act quickly and impose further restrictions if necessary.”

But this limit, which allows 46 dolphins a year on the South Island’s east coast to end up as accidental fishing bycatch, left advocates with grave concerns.

Oceans and Fisheries Minister David Parker says new technology will allow them to protect dolphins, while allowing fishing to continue.

In the original 2020 consultation document, it was proposed six dolphin deaths per year in Otago was an acceptable level. But in his decision letter, Parker said concerns about the size of the Otago population lead him to reduce that limit to two.

He allocated the four-dolphin difference to Banks Peninsula and Timaru, up from 18 and 10 deaths per year, to 20 and 12 respectively. His letter maintained this limit was less than half of the species’ population sustainability threshold.

Advocacy group Māui and Hector’s Dolphin Defenders said the extended set-netting closures don’t go far enough.

“We welcome the extended ban on this practice in parts of the Otago and South Coast”, Chairperson Christine Rose said.

“[But] a ban should also have been extended to protect Hector’s from commercial trawling in their habitat.”

Banks Peninsula-based MP Eugenie Sage says the bycatch limits in many areas are far too high (file photo).

Instead, the plan relied on “unproven voluntary measures” and a ”bycatch target” which increased the number of dolphins that could acceptably die in fishing nets in Banks Peninsula and Timaru, on what was first proposed, she said.

“This is no way to keep dolphins safe, in populations where every life matters. We’ve seen unprecedented bycatch deaths and entanglements in the last year, and no doubt additional unreported deaths too.”

Green MP Eugenie Sage said the fishing-related mortality limits of 20 Hector’s dolphin around Banks Peninsula, 12 off the Timaru coast, seven off the Kaikōura coast and five in Marlborough’s Cloudy and Clifford Bays were far too high.

“There is no fisheries-related mortality limit for dolphins on the South Island’s West Coast. Relying on voluntary measures by the industry there is inadequate, especially with limited observer coverage and the fact that on-board cameras won’t be rolled out until 2024.”

Parker said the fishing-related mortality limit was not a target.

“The focus of the plan is working with fishers to ensure bycatch numbers trend towards zero and never reach the limits that have been set.

“The approach being taken is essentially an “incident response” one – any time a dolphin is caught officials will work with that fisher to ensure there is no repeat.”

Technology like on-board cameras, real-time catch reporting and monitoring commercial boat locations would allow his team to better protect dolphins, while allowing fishing to continue, he said.

“These give greater certainty that fishing-related dolphin deaths will not exceed the levels necessary to allow these populations to thrive and recover.

“Fishing supports communities throughout the South Island. The new measures will improve protection while also allowing fishers to continue to provide an important economic contribution to our coastal communities.”

Hector’s dolphins are vulnerable several fronts, including the risk of ending up as accidental bycatch, toxoplasmosis, and warming seas impacting their food supply. (File photo)

In the year to July 31, 19 Hector’s and Māui dolphins were found dead and reported to the Department of Conservation (DOC). It marked a six-fold increase on the year before – from August 2020 to July 2021 – when just three deaths were reported.

DOC’s database says at least 13 Hector’s dolphins had died in commercial fishing nets near Banks Peninsula alone since August 2017.

The new measures come on the back of Government’s 2020 dolphin protection measures, which included a nationwide ban on drift-netting, extensions to the marine mammal protection areas and a proposal to prohibit seismic surveying and seabed mining in the five marine mammal protection areas.

Check out this article on plans for protection of our local dolphins. This weekend we have finished some maintenance on Delight and will soon post our Dolphin counting expeditions in the sanctuary.

We found this map showing sightings of marine life and want to add some dots to it :

Here is a map of the sanctuary:

Check out the article here : https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/130146301/bycatch-limits-in-hectors-dolphin-protection-plan-far-too-high-advocates-say

Advocates are concerned new measures aimed at stopping the South Island’s vulnerable Hector’s dolphins ending up as fishing bycatch have increased the acceptable number of dolphin deaths in two parts of Canterbury, from Government’s original proposal.

On Wednesday, Oceans and Fisheries Minister David Parker unveiled three changes aimed at protecting the species, which will be implemented by the end of the year. It was the first time a fishing-related mortality limit has been applied to Hector dolphins.

The 2020 commercial and recreational set-net fishing ban area around Banks Peninsula will be further extended, and an extra 1100km² of South Island coastline will be closed to set-netting – protecting 17,600km² in total.

Trawl closures and gear restrictions will also cover more than 6900km² of coastline.

Parker said a new bycatch reduction plan would also be applied to all South Island Hector’s dolphin subpopulations.

While allowing fishing to continue, the plan had a mix of regulatory and voluntary measures to incentivise and support fishers to improve their practices and avoid “all Hector’s dolphin bycatch”, he said.

One of the smallest marine mammals in the world, Hector’s dolphins are only found in New Zealand’s waters and are considered nationally vulnerable, with a population of about 15,000.

Their North Island subspecies, the Māui dolphin, is critically endangered, with as few as 54 left.

“We need to work to reduce the number of these dolphins killed by fishing to as close to zero as possible”, Parker said.

“While current measures have been effective in significantly reducing the risks of dolphin deaths from fishing, more action is needed to protect populations throughout their natural range.”

Their key focus was on implementing a plan to reduce accidental catch of Hector’s dolphins in the long term, he said.

“[The plan] sets regulatory limits for bycatch so that I can act quickly and impose further restrictions if necessary.”

But this limit, which allows 46 dolphins a year on the South Island’s east coast to end up as accidental fishing bycatch, left advocates with grave concerns.

Oceans and Fisheries Minister David Parker says new technology will allow them to protect dolphins, while allowing fishing to continue.

In the original 2020 consultation document, it was proposed six dolphin deaths per year in Otago was an acceptable level. But in his decision letter, Parker said concerns about the size of the Otago population lead him to reduce that limit to two.

He allocated the four-dolphin difference to Banks Peninsula and Timaru, up from 18 and 10 deaths per year, to 20 and 12 respectively. His letter maintained this limit was less than half of the species’ population sustainability threshold.

Advocacy group Māui and Hector’s Dolphin Defenders said the extended set-netting closures don’t go far enough.

“We welcome the extended ban on this practice in parts of the Otago and South Coast”, Chairperson Christine Rose said.

“[But] a ban should also have been extended to protect Hector’s from commercial trawling in their habitat.”

Banks Peninsula-based MP Eugenie Sage says the bycatch limits in many areas are far too high (file photo).

Instead, the plan relied on “unproven voluntary measures” and a ”bycatch target” which increased the number of dolphins that could acceptably die in fishing nets in Banks Peninsula and Timaru, on what was first proposed, she said.

“This is no way to keep dolphins safe, in populations where every life matters. We’ve seen unprecedented bycatch deaths and entanglements in the last year, and no doubt additional unreported deaths too.”

Green MP Eugenie Sage said the fishing-related mortality limits of 20 Hector’s dolphin around Banks Peninsula, 12 off the Timaru coast, seven off the Kaikōura coast and five in Marlborough’s Cloudy and Clifford Bays were far too high.

“There is no fisheries-related mortality limit for dolphins on the South Island’s West Coast. Relying on voluntary measures by the industry there is inadequate, especially with limited observer coverage and the fact that on-board cameras won’t be rolled out until 2024.”

Parker said the fishing-related mortality limit was not a target.

“The focus of the plan is working with fishers to ensure bycatch numbers trend towards zero and never reach the limits that have been set.

“The approach being taken is essentially an “incident response” one – any time a dolphin is caught officials will work with that fisher to ensure there is no repeat.”

Technology like on-board cameras, real-time catch reporting and monitoring commercial boat locations would allow his team to better protect dolphins, while allowing fishing to continue, he said.

“These give greater certainty that fishing-related dolphin deaths will not exceed the levels necessary to allow these populations to thrive and recover.

“Fishing supports communities throughout the South Island. The new measures will improve protection while also allowing fishers to continue to provide an important economic contribution to our coastal communities.”

Hector’s dolphins are vulnerable several fronts, including the risk of ending up as accidental bycatch, toxoplasmosis, and warming seas impacting their food supply. (File photo)

In the year to July 31, 19 Hector’s and Māui dolphins were found dead and reported to the Department of Conservation (DOC). It marked a six-fold increase on the year before – from August 2020 to July 2021 – when just three deaths were reported.

DOC’s database says at least 13 Hector’s dolphins had died in commercial fishing nets near Banks Peninsula alone since August 2017.

The new measures come on the back of Government’s 2020 dolphin protection measures, which included a nationwide ban on drift-netting, extensions to the marine mammal protection areas and a proposal to prohibit seismic surveying and seabed mining in the five marine mammal protection areas.

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