There are new calls to ban commercial fishing in areas that native dolphins call home.
A new mandate requiring cameras onboard fishing vessels has revealed an increase in the number of Hector’s and Maui dolphins being caught in nets and killed.
Since August, five Hector’s or Maui dolphins have been killed by commercial fishing vessels.
While it’s not quite at record numbers, it’s already one more than all of the previous reporting period.
The onboard camera mandate is currently limited to specific vessel sizes, fishing methods and areas. From next Tuesday, all longline fishing boats will be included, and Sea Shepherd fears bycatch reports will increase as the rollout progresses.
"In the first six months of the camera rollout, we're seeing an increase of 50%, and that is a conservative estimate of 50%. They're easily going to hit 100% increase," Sea Sheppard managing director Michael Lawry said.
"It's fairly obvious that [bycatch] has been underreported."
According to Seafood New Zealand, it’s far too early to make scientifically-sound conclusions,
Acting Fisheries New Zealand management director Marianne Lukkien said in a statement: "Based on international experience, the government agency in charge expects cameras to drive more reporting."
She said the "data to date is in line with estimates".
However, Lawry said: "If you're catching dolphins in those areas, you are in their habitat. So, those fisheries need to be closed down. That's the obvious thing to do."
Tens of thousands of square kilometres of New Zealand’s ocean is already closed to trawlers and set nets.
Akaroa Dolphins owner and founder Hugh Waghorn thinks the dolphins’ population is doing fine without the cameras.
“On one trip this summer, one of the skippers saw seven newborn calves, so we don't think that there is any reason to increase the measures.
"The Hector's dolphins seem to be doing okay."
Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says any further closures would need to balance the livelihoods of fishers with the need to protect the dolphins.
SHARE ME