proposed interim measures for hector’s dolphins

Purpose

The purpose of this Initial Position Paper is to outline proposals to introduce interim measures to mitigate the impacts of fishing on Hector’s dolphins (including Maui’s dolphins).

Summary

Hector’s dolphins are vulnerable to a range of threats, including some kinds of fishing activities, boat strike and boat noise, marine farming, and various kinds of pollution. The Ministry of Fisheries and the Department of Conservation have been jointly working to develop a Threat Management Plan for Hector’s dolphins, which will contain strategies to deal with all significant threats facing the dolphins.

The development of the draft Threat Management Plan is progressing but has proven more complex than initially envisaged, resulting in delays to the timeline for its implementation. The time required to develop and consult on a draft Threat Management Plan means that measures identified in the completed Plan are likely to be implemented around the middle of next year.

There are a number of measures already in place to mitigate fishing threats to Hector’s dolphins around New Zealand. MFish has undertaken an assessment of the need for interim measures to be implemented ahead of the Threat Management Plan to ensure the most effective mitigation measures are in place for the coming summer when dolphins tend to be closer inshore and the risk of interactions with fishing gear is greatest.

This assessment suggests that there are some fishing threats to the dolphins that may require further mitigation. To address these threats, a number of interim measures are proposed. Any interim measures introduced will be regarded as short-term measures that can be replaced by longer-term solutions identified in the Threat Management Plan.

It is possible in some instances that voluntary measures will adequately mitigate fishing threats until the Threat Management Plan is completed. In this case, officials will work with fishers to implement such measures as soon as possible.

If the Minister of Fisheries considers mandatory interim measures are required to effectively mitigate fishing threats, these are intended to be implemented by Christmas 2006.

Download the documents

 IPP Proposed interim measures for Hectors dolphins (PDF 592KB)

  Ministry of Fisheries IPP Cover Letter (PDF 21KB)

  Minister of Fisheries Letter to stakeholders (PDF 16KB)

MFish Final Advice Paper on interim measures for Hector’s dolphins

The document attached is the Final Advice Paper to the Minister on proposals to introduce interim measures to reduce the impacts of fishing on Hector’s dolphins (including Maui’s dolphins). This advice follows consultation with stakeholders, which ended on 23 November 2006. The Initial Position Paper on proposed interim measures is also provided on this website. Individual submitter’s names have been replaced with ‘XX’ throughout the Final Advice Paper for privacy purposes.

 Final Advice Paper on interim measures for Hector’s dolphins (PDF 1.1MB)