Decision on dolphin plan soon
The seafood industry expects a decision on the Government's proposed dolphin management plan for Maui's and Hector's dolphins in May.
The Threat Management Plan (TMP) for the two species of dolphins was released in August last year for consultation, but has been delayed after the Ministry of Fisheries and Department of Conservation asked for comment on new information. Te Ohu Kaimoana told the Government there were “considerable difficulties” with what the two agencies were proposing.
“It is important to all iwi and Te Ohu Kaimoana that the long-term viability of both Maui's and Hector's dolphin populations are maintained through long-term programmes that cost-effectively manage the risk to the dolphin populations,” Te Ohu Kaimoana's submission states.
Difficulties included: inadequate consultation with iwi, inadequate consideration of the Treaty and the Fisheries Settlement, the quality of information provided, critical information lacking from the document and a number of particular concerns with the IPP (Initial Position Paper).
The main issue with the proposed TMP is that current fishing controls – both regulatory and voluntary – are managing the risks to the dolphin populations within levels that assure the long-term viability of these populations. The analysis for each population suggests that, contrary to the tone of the proposals, fishing does not currently pose an unacceptable risk to the long-term viability of the Maui's and Hector's dolphins.
“Ultimately, additional measures are not needed to reduce the risk to dolphins to safe levels. We oppose these as they will impose unnecessary restrictions on the ability of iwi and hapu to use the fisheries settlement assets – both commercial and non-commercial – as well as unnecessarily restricting other commercial and recreational fishers.”
Te Ohu Kaimoana said in the submission that the only aspects requiring urgent action by Ministers is the commissioning of fundamental research into the distribution and abundance of each dolphin population as well as more detailed information on range of activity, seasonal and diurnal patterns as well as data on the age, sex and health information for each population.
The New Zealand Seafood Industry Council (SeaFIC) said there is no justification for the proposals because they are based on “dubious science and lack reliable information”.
SeaFIC says the measures in the proposals have huge consequences for New Zealand individuals, families and regional communities, and they have no factual information to support them.
Maui's and Hector's Dolphin Facts:
Maui's Dolphins
- Between 1988 and 2003 there were two Maui's dolphin deaths attributed to commercial fishing net entanglement out of a total of 17 notified deaths,
- Photographs of the two entanglement deaths show illegal driftnets, not commercial setnets,
- No deaths attributed to commercial fishing since 2003, when a ban was established for four nautical miles on that Coast where the dolphins live,
- No Maui's dolphin death has ever been attributed to trawling,
- With the most recent deaths of Maui's dolphins, the cause of death was attributed to Brucellosis and it is worth noting that the Massey University veterinarians who carried out the autopsy were surprised to find this bacteria in dolphins,
- The vast majority of dolphin sightings are within 1.8km of the coastline, and there have been no verified sightings within harbours,
Hector's Dolphins
- Since 2000 only 29 of the 123 confirmed deaths of Hector's dolphins have been attributed to commercial set netting,
- There is no recent research that reliably estimates the total number of Hector's dolphins, • No recent or current research on pollution, health, fishing or other impacts on the population, • There is no proof that fishing, or any other human activity, is the ‘biggest' or most ‘significant' threat,
- Annual mortalities attributed to fishing are less than 0.1% of population,
- Found mostly in waters up to
100m deep,
- No deaths attributed to commercial fishing South Coast South Island
since 1988,
- Nobody knows exactly how many Hector's dolphins there are because there has not been enough recent research, but the accepted scientific estimate is 7,270 individuals (range between 5,303 and 9,966),
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Protecting Māori fisheries assets for future generations