Need for penguin protection
MORE focus is needed on protecting yelloweyed penguins at sea as well as on land, Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage says.
In an address at the annual YellowEyed Penguin Symposium at the University of Otago on Saturday, Ms Sage emphasised the need to turn the tide for the penguins, known as hoiho.
Government, iwi, nongovernmental organisations and rehabilitation groups were working together to improve the fortunes of the nationally endangered bird, after a series of terrible breeding seasons.
She was ‘‘very pleased’’ at the effort being put in through the partnership between the Doc, Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu, symposium organisers the Yelloweyed Penguin Trust, and Fisheries New Zealand.
The partners had developed an overall conservation strategy, Te Kaweka Takohaka mo te Hoiho, and Five Year Action Plan for hoiho, Te Mahere Rima Tau, released on Saturday.
Proposed actions included a survey of hoiho nest sites on Stewart Island to identify nest numbers and locations, and to expand tracking in waters around the island to better understand their foraging behaviour and habitat use.
The overall strategy and action plans were a ‘‘really important step forward’’, and the strong element of cooperation between groups was also vital, she said.
Much work had already been done to protect the penguins on land, including to increase protection against predators, but research showed that hoiho could travel up to 40km out to sea in search of food and were vulnerable to changes in food availability and predation, she said.
Forest & Bird Otago Southland regional manager Sue Maturin said time was running out for hoiho, and Forest & Bird welcomed the strategy with its focus on restoring the population.
The strategy had many good points but failed to address the urgent need to avoid set nets and trawling where the penguins went and there were insufficient cameras and observers on boats to monitor penguin bycatch deaths, she said.