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Westie dolphins face perfect storm for extinction A new Maui dolphin ‘abundance estimate’ last year suggested an increase from 55 to 63 dolphins off the North Island’s West coast. That’s not many dolphins in a big ocean and it’s only a very cautiously suggested positive estimate. There’s not much good news in such low numbers either way. With their distinctive ‘Mickey Mouse ears’ dorsal fin, and black and grey colouring, they’re easily recognised. Spending summer in particular, close inshore, they’re ‘Westie dolphins’. They are often reported at Piha, Karekare and Muriwai, engaging surfers, celebrating their ability to ride waves in the cheekiest way. Maui dolphins are the world’s smallest marine dolphin at only about 1.5m, fully grown. The calves are about the size of a rugby ball, but cuter. Scientists estimate there were about 2000 Maui dolphins before nylon gill nets were introduced in the 1970s. Set and trawl nets are responsible for about 95 percent of Maui and Hector’s dolphin deaths (where the cause of death is known). That’s a radical impact in a short space of time. Most of Maui and Hectors dolphin habitat remains unprotected. Observer coverage extends to less than a quarter of the fishing fleet in core Maui habitat despite Minister Nick Smith’s much publicised pledge to increase coverage to 100 percent. Maui also face new pressure from sea-bed mining and seismic testing. Untenable threats outside their small protected area leads to habitat contraction, with the dolphins increasingly confined to a smaller and smaller area, although biopsy evidence shows that some South Island Hector’s dolphins travel hundreds of kilometres north and coexist with their North Island cousins. This has positive
implications for breeding and genetic diversity but any such journey is through some of the most heavily trawled waters of New Zealand. Low population numbers, extractive industry pressure, inadequate monitoring and compliance, few The distinctive dorsal fin of a Maui sanctions applied for transgressions, dolphin. Photo by Heidi Padain. a complicit regulatory system – these are the elements of a perfect storm for extinction. China left it too late to respond to that perfect storm with the Yangtze River dolphin. Mexico left it too late though they finally bought out fishermen and deployed the navy to protect the last 60 Vaquita. Still, Vaquita numbers have dropped from 60 to 30 in the last year. That’s about as desperate as it gets. In New Maui dolphins off our West Zealand, our action has also been too coast. Photo by Christine little too late. Rose. Dolphin sightings provide invaluable distribution and habitat use information and can lead to better protection. Every Maui dolphin sighting should be reported to 0800 DOCHOT with details of the time and place, and the dolphin’s characteristics. – Christine Rose
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