Hector’s dolphin deaths reported

Four endangered Hector’s dolphins have been caught during trawl fishing off the east coast of the South Island this summer.

Fisheries New Zealand was informed that the dolphins were caught in two separate events, one in which one dolphin was caught, and another where three were caught.

‘‘Any captures of these dolphins is extremely disappointing,’’ inshore fisheries manager Steve Halley said.

‘‘Hector’s dolphins are nationally endangered taonga, and we’re interested to find out as much as we can about these captures so we can work with the industry to avoid them occurring.’’

He praised the fishers for quickly reporting the deaths, though.

‘‘Prompt reporting by fishers ensures the best opportunity to gather details about these incidents, and in this case the commercial fishers reported the captures immediately, which enabled recovery of three dolphins for necropsy.’’

The Department of Conservation (DOC) will include information about the captures in its Hector’s and Maui Dolphin Incident Database, which records the date, location and cause of mortality, where known. Incidents are published on DOC’s website quarterly.

DOC marine species and threats manager Ian Angus said the information would help to inform the department’s approach toward protecting Hector’s dolphins from humanrelated activities.

Forest & Bird ocean advocate Karen Baird said the deaths were another reason why fishing boats needed cameras.

‘‘These tragic deaths show there is a major problem in our fisheries, and raises serious questions over the industry’s dismal record of killing threatened native species,’’ she said.

Hector’s dolphins are listed as nationally endangered, with an estimated population of 15,000.

The deaths of four endangered Hector’s dolphins off the South Island’s east coast this summer have been called ‘‘tragic’’.