Disease the real killer

In reply to Catherine Cheung’s letter to the editor on 9 January, I’ve not seen any research to back her statement that Maui’s dolphins are critically endangered because of fishing by-catch.

In fact, disease is one of the greatest threats against the Maui’s dolphin; brucella, and particularly toxoplasmosis, which Massey University identified as the cause of death of two out of three Maui’s autopsied after they washed up dead on beaches back in 2012.

Further testing showed that of dolphins that died of other causes, 61 per cent were also infected with toxoplasma, which causes death, behavioural changes, still births and reduced reproductive rate.

Regarding Dr Slooten’s comments that seismic surveys could drive Maui’s dolphin into nearby fishing areas, Ms Cheung may not be aware that the areas where the dolphins predominantly habitat, have been closed off to set net fishing for many years now, to the point where fishermen could now claim to be the endangered species.

The ocean is full of sound, the loudest being natural events and sea life rather than those generated by seismic surveying.

It seems obvious to many that attacking seismic surveying is actually about stopping oil and gas exploration.

It seems we are not yet ready for a hydrocarbon free world, demonstrated poignantly by one of the seismic survey protesters at Ngamotu beach towing his petrol fuelled boat behind his petrol fuelled ute.

Jonathan Young

MP for New Plymouth