Care for the Wild International
14 October 2007
For immediate release

111 Call for New Zealand’s vanishing dolphins

Gill netting and trawling have pushed Maui’s and Hector’s dolphins to the brink. The catch of these fisheries mostly ends up on New Zealand plates as fish & chips. With just 111 Maui’s dolphins left and Hector’s dolphins in continued decline, New Zealand holds the fate of these supremely vulnerable animals in the palm of its hand.

Last month, the Ministry of Fisheries and the Department of Conservation jointly published a Hector’s and Maui’s dolphin Draft Threat Management Plan. None of the three options offered by the plan would provide protection against all fisheries bycatch, which means the draft plan still falls short of the zero tolerance approach needed. Even the most restrictive measures proposed provide Hector’s dolphins with less than a 50:50 chance of recovering to just half their original numbers by 2050. In contrast, the Marine Mammal Protection Act requires that Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable species should become non-threatened as soon as possible, but at least within 20 years.

Maui’s dolphins are the world’s most endangered dolphin and will not survive if more than one animal is killed every 5-7 years. But at least 11 Maui’s dolphins have died in the past 5 years. Only complete protection against fishing-related mortality will save them from extinction. But the fishing industry has fought even these measures and continues to oppose steps to fully protect the last survivors. Industry pressure on the government has led to hesitation and valuable time being lost. In the past few weeks, fishing interests have geared up their efforts against effective protection.

With the future of an entire species in danger, the conservation stakes could not be higher. At odds with New Zealand’s green and clean image, industry objections focus solely on potential revenue losses. Industry representatives claim that some 100 jobs are at risk – roughly one for each surviving Maui’s dolphin.

Research funded by UK-based conservation group Care for the Wild International (CWI) has shown that Maui’s dolphins live in waters that are currently unprotected and therefore unsafe. The charity’s Chief Executive, Dr Barbara Maas, is currently in New Zealand to launch its ‘Maui’s dolphins – Cheap as Chips?’ campaign. “The implications of this decision extend far beyond Maui’s and Hector’s dolphins”, she says. “If a progressive, environmentally conscious country like New Zealand can’t, or won’t do everything possible to prevent extinction because limited commercial interests get in the way, what hope is there for any of world’s tigers, rhinos and other endangered species?”

Whether New Zealanders will put limited job losses before the permanent loss of a species is testing the country’s environmental credibility. “Hector’s and Maui’s dolphins live only in New Zealand and are as much a part of this country as the kiwi, Mount Cook, the All Blacks and the Haka”, says Dr Maas. “If the slogan ‘100% pure New Zealand’ holds true only as long as nobody loses out financially, Maui’s and Hector’s dolphins are doomed.” Public comments on the draft plan are due by 24 October 2007. The world is watching. ENDS

For further information and images please contact:
Dr Barbara Maas, Chief Executive, Care for the Wild International (CWI)
tel: 04-9312999, mobile: +44-7970987742, e-mail: bmaas@careforthewild.com
www.careforthewild.com

Notes to editors:
1. Care for the Wild International (CWI) is an animal welfare and conservation charity that funds practical projects around the world. We make areas safe from poachers, rehabilitate sick or injured animals and provide sanctuary for those who can not return to the wild. We also act as a global voice for wildlife through research, education and advocacy and expose animal cruelty and wildlife crime.

2. Hector’s Dolphins Facts
• Hector’s dolphins are classified as Endangered by the Red List of Endangered Species. This means that Hector’s are “facing a high risk of extinction in the near future”.
• Numbers have declined from more than 29,000 in the 1970s to less than 8,000 today
• Commercial and recreational fishing is responsible for almost 70% of Hector’s dolphin deaths. Because not all deaths are reported, this is a minimum estimate.
• Other threats include boat strikes, pollution, sand-mining, coastal development and harassment.
• Existing protection measures have failed to halt the species’ decline. Hector’s dolphins will only be safe into the future if all threats from commercial and recreational fishing are removed.

3. Maui’s Dolphins Facts
• Maui’s dolphins are classified as Critically Endangered by the Red List of Endangered Species. This means that Maui’s dolphins “are facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the immediate future.”
• Only 111 Maui’s dolphins survive.
• There are just 25 breeding females left amongst about 60 breeding adults
• Females only have 1 calf every 2-4 years and do not reach breeding age until they are 7-9 years old. The species’ potential for recovery is therefore extremely slow.
• Maui’s dolphins prefer shallow waters up to 100m deep and are therefore highly vulnerable to nets.

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