Reuters 29 May 08;
WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand plans to ban commercial fishing near its coast and set up marine reserves to protect the rare Hector's dolphins, a government minister said on Thursday
The Hector's dolphin is estimated to number around 7,400 from 29,000 in the late 1970s. However, one of its sub-species, the Maui dolphin, is said to be the rarest in the world and facing extinction with as few as 111 animals left.
Fishing is blamed for up to three-quarters of the known deaths of Hector's dolphins.
"The measures strike the best achievable balance between the protection of these iconic dolphins and the activities of our commercial and recreational fishers," said Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton.
He said the measures were estimated to cost the commercial fishing industry up to 295 jobs and NZ$79.1 million over the next 10 years.
The dolphins grow to around 1.4 meters (40 inches) compared with up to 4 meters for the common Bottlenose dolphin, live around 20 years, and breed slowly.
They usually live in small groups of no more than five and feed on inshore fish species, which brings them into contact with fishing nets.
However, conservationists said the measures were barely adequate.
"At best today's decision is a half measure that fails to ensure the dolphins' recovery or survival," said Dr Barbara Mass of the Care for the Wild International group.
The commercial fishing industry said the decision would not save any more dolphins, but would ruin some businesses.
(Reporting by Gyles Beckford; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani)
New Zealand plan to save rarest dolphin
Nick Squires, The Telegraph 29 May 08;
New Zealand announced tough new measures today to save the world's rarest and smallest dolphin from extinction.
But the initiative will cost millions of pounds and threaten the livelihoods of fishermen.
The establishment of marine sanctuaries, together with the banning of coastal net fishing and trawling, is designed to help conserve the last remaining 110 Maui's dolphins.
The conservation measures will also benefit the Hector's dolphin, which has declined from an estimated 29,000 in the 1970s to just 7,000.
"Clearly we've got iconic species here... they only exist in New Zealand," said Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton. "And under business as usual, inevitably (we will) watch the Maui's dolphin (become) an extinct population.
"We're going to give it a go, particularly for Maui's dolphins, to see if on our watch we can save them. We may not be able to," he said.
Fishing is blamed for up to three-quarters of the known deaths of Hector's dolphins, which become entangled in nets and injured by boats.
"The measures strike the best achievable balance between the protection of these iconic dolphins and the activities of our commercial and recreational fishers," said Mr Anderton.
He conceded that the measures would cost the commercial fishing industry nearly 300 jobs and NZ$79 million over the next decade.
"This is not an easy decision to make when you know you're going to put fishermen . . . out of business."
Hector's and Maui's dolphins are black, grey and white and reach about 5ft in length. They live for around 20 years but breed slowly. They feed on inshore fish species, which brings them into contact with fishing nets.
However, conservationists said the measures were not enough to save the species from extinction.
"At best today's decision is a half measure that fails to ensure the dolphins' recovery or survival," said Dr Barbara Mass of Care for the Wild International.
The head of the Seafood Industry Council, Owen Symmans, said the government was putting small fishermen out of business without any compensation and with little benefit to dolphins.
"It will not save one extra Maui's dolphin," he said, insisting that previously enacted laws already ensured that dolphins were not captured or harmed by fishermen.
A dolphin expert, Liz Slooten from Otago University, said the measures would probably keep the populations static, but would not help them recover.
Hector's dolphins live on the east and south coast of the South Island while Maui's dolphins, a sub species, live on the west coast of the North Island.
New Zealand tries to save 2 endangered dolphins
Yahoo News 29 May 08;
The New Zealand government banned coastal net fishing and announced new marine mammal sanctuaries Thursday in a bid to prevent the extinction of two indigenous dolphin species.
The tough new measures ban net fishing and trawling in areas ranging out to 1.2 to 7.7 miles from the shore in the dolphins' living areas around both main islands.
They are expected to cost the country's coastal fishing industry $62 million and as many as 295 jobs over the next five years.
The number of indigenous Hector's dolphins has declined from an estimated 29,000 in the 1970s to just 7,000, while there are only 111 remaining Maui's dolphins.
Officials said the tiny Maui's dolphin could be extinct within a few years — a warning that prompted the government action.
"Clearly we've got iconic species here ... they only exist in New Zealand," said Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton. "And under business as usual inevitably (we will) watch the Maui's dolphin ... (become) an extinct population."
"We're going to give it a go, particularly for Maui's dolphins, to see if on our watch we can save them. We may not be able to," he told National Radio.
The coastal fishing ban will protect most of the dolphins' habitats, Anderton said.
"This is not an easy decision to make when you know you're going to put fishermen ... out of business," he said.
Seafood Industry Council chief executive Owen Symmans said it was unhappy with the decision because the government was putting small fishermen out of business without any compensation "and for no real gain" to the dolphin.
"It will not save one extra Maui's dolphin," he said, asserting that previous catch controls already ensured that dolphins were not captured or harmed by fishermen.
Chris Howe, executive director of the World Wildlife Fund's New Zealand branch, earlier said that photographs of 22 common dolphins killed in trawler nets off North Island's west coast last December — released by the government in mid-March — proved that the fishing controls would not protect the endangered dolphins.
The Forest and Bird conservation group's advocacy manager, Kevin Hackwell, praised the government for taking the most significant action in 20 years to save the two species.
"The measures will go a long way toward halting the decline of the endangered dolphins and begin the slow path to recovery," he said.
But Green Party lawmaker Metiria Turei said the sanctuaries needed to extend farther out into the ocean.
