Hector’s dolphins are found only in New Zealand. Today there are fewer than 8,000 individuals - down from more than 29,000 in 1970. The decline was caused by dolphins being caught and drowned in gillnets used by commercial and recreational fishers. North Island Hector’s dolphins, also known as Maui’s dolphins, have been worst affected. With a population size of about 100 individuals they are critically endangered.

This problem can be solved simply and effectively by ensuring that only selective fishing methods are used in areas where Hector’s dolphins are found.

In particular, no gillnets should be used in waters less than 100m deep. If William Trubridge can dive to the bottom, no gillnets (and preferably no trawl nets) should be used. For more information, see: William Trubridge on Facebook

Protection for Hector's dolphins urgently needs to be extended to waters 100m deep, the red area in the map. Protected areas for Hector's dolphin are shown in green.

In waters less than 100m deep:

• Use only fishing methods that don’t catch dolphins
• Replace gillnets and trawling with selective, sustainable fishing methods

The current protection measures ban gillnet and trawl fisheries in some areas where Hector's dolphins are found. But several important areas have been left out. They are not yet sufficient to ensure that dolphin populations are stable, let alone recover from the massive population declines during the last 30 years. The protection measures do not yet meet national or international guidelines for marine mammal protection.

Specific ways in which protection could be improved include:

• Protection from gillnetting off Taranaki to allow the North Island Hector’s dolphin (also known as Maui's dolphin) to recover
• Better protection of harbours. Protection is provided in North Island harbour entrances, but most of the harbour habitat is still open to gillnetting. Likewise, Hector’s dolphins in Banks Peninsula harbours are still exposed to gillnet fisheries
• Extending protection on the west coast South Island to to 6 nautical miles offshore, year-round
• Extending protection at Banks Peninsula area offshore to 15 nautical miles as Hector's dolphins are found well beyond the 4 nautical mile protection boundary in this relatively shallow area
• Increased protection from trawl fisheries
• Observers on all gillnet and trawl fisheries continuing in areas where Hector’s dolphins are found

For more information, please click here

Please send a letter to the Ministers of Fisheries and Conservation

Please email:

David Carter, Minister of Fisheries: d.carter@ministers.govt.nz

Kate Wilkinson, Minister of Conservation: k.wilkinson@ministers.govt.nz

Or post a brief letter to: Kate Wilkinson and Phil Heatley, Ministers of Conservation and Fisheries, Parliament Buildings, Wellington (no stamp required)

Ask them to ban gillnets and trawling in all areas where Hector's dolphins are found, in waters up to 100m deep.

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