WELLINGTON, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand will implement new measures to further manage the impacts of fishing on South Island Hector's dolphins, which are nationally vulnerable with about 15,000 in the country's waters.
"We need to work to reduce the number of these dolphins killed by fishing to as close to zero as possible," Oceans and Fisheries Minister David Parker said on Wednesday.
Hector's dolphins, mostly found around the coast of New Zealand's South Island, are one of the world's smallest dolphins. Their bodies are grey with black and white markings. They have a distinctive rounded dorsal fin that looks like one of Mickey Mouse's ears.
While current measures have been effective in significantly reducing the risks of dolphin deaths from fishing, more action is needed to protect populations throughout their natural range, Parker said in a statement.
While the suite of measures implemented includes an extension of the commercial and recreational set net closures around the Banks Peninsula, its key focus is on implementing a plan to reduce the accidental catch of Hector's dolphins in the long term, he said.
"This plan will incentivize and support fishers to improve their practices and avoid all Hector's dolphin bycatch," said the minister.
The introduction of new technology like onboard cameras, real-time catch reporting and monitoring of commercial vessel location allows the authorities to better protect these dolphins while allowing fishing to continue, which is an important economic contribution to the coastal communities, Parker said.
These give greater certainty that fishing-related dolphin deaths will not exceed the levels necessary to allow these populations to thrive and recover, he said.
Other risks to Hector's dolphin include the disease toxoplasmosis, and the government has committed funding to understand and reduce the threat of the disease.
Public consultation on the measures took place late last year, and the changes are expected to be implemented by the end of 2022. ■
