The 2019 Threat Management Plan
- October 2021: A study commissioned by DOC and Fisheries New Zealand reported that there were likely to be 54 Maui dolphins over 1 year old within the survey area, with 95% confidence that the number of dolphins was between 48 and 64.
- June 2021: Hector’s and Māui dolphin Research Strategy 2021 was created to support the vision and goals of the Hector’s and Māui Dolphin Threat Management Plan (TMP).
- November 2020: Changes to five marine mammal sanctuaries and the Kaikoura Whale Sanctuary came into effect on 5 November.
- October 2020: The new measures to restrict commercial and recreational set-net and commercial trawl fishing announced in June 2020 took effect.
More information on the Threat Management Plan
- Threat Management Plan
- Reference and more information (Timeline of protection for Māui and Hector’s dolphins)
- The Draft TMP from MPI
- NZIER: Hector’s and Māui dolphin threat management plan (November 2019)
Recent news
- Dolphin protest targets Prime Minister’s electorate office
- The Grim Reaper visits the Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s office
- The Fisheries Minister Shane Jones argues the increase in reported dolphin deaths is no problem
- More context on the deaths of Hector’s and why we went to the PM’s office
- Why is it so hard to save this species? A recent article about the countdown to extinction for Maui Dolphins
- Dolphin Defender Genevieve Robinson asks Canterbury Regional Council to do more
- Drones will be deployed in the efforts to spot Māui dolphins, but only more investment preventing fishing entanglement, toxoplasmosis and other human impacts will save them.
- Sea Shepherd take the fight for protection to the US
- Increased fishing quotas pose more threats to Māui dolphins
- Other threats dolphins are facing - Hector’s dolphins in danger from retired landfill / Colac Bay erosion
Deaths
- Hector’s and Māui dolphin incident database
- Dead Māui’s dolphin discovered to be pregnant
- Māui dolphin found dead on Auckland beach
- Three Hector’s dolphins were killed in a net off the Canterbury coast
- Four endangered Hector’s dolphins caught in fishing trawls
Government announcements
- Further protect South Island Hector’s dolphins - Have your say. Government consultation closes on December 6th.
- The 2021 Māui dolphin population estimate
- Timeline of protection for Māui and Hector’s dolphins
- Govt announces a $17.1million programme for cameras on boats only in Māui habitat
- Camera programme better for the industry than for Māui and Hector’s
Further reading and references
- Protect Pahu (Hector’s dolphins) from fishing nets petition link
- Hector’s dolphin sightings app is an online tool to act as a portal for citizen science reporting of dolphins around New Zealand.
- DoC – Visit this page for the Māui and Hector’s dolphin sightings database – mortality record, abundance estimate and info on past and proposed Threat Management Plans.
- New Zealand Whale and Dolphin Trust – We work with a range of scientists, including world experts Professor Liz Slooten and Steve Dawson from the University of Otago and the New Zealand Whale and Dolphin Trust.
- Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
