Hector's dolphins in Banks Peninsula Photo: Biosphoto via AFP
Conservationists are worried a lag in reporting the number of Hector's dolphins killed in fishing bycatch is preventing the industry from doing more to save them.
Since cameras were introduced on-board fishing boats, there has been a dramatic increase of dolphin captures and other fish and seabirds by the commercial fishing industry.
Figures from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) dated to 1 April show dolphin captures have increased seven-fold since the cameras were introduced, compared to the period from 2018 prior to the rollout.
Environment Canterbury councillor and coastal advocate Genevieve Robinson Photo: RNZ/Niva Chittock
Data from the Department of Conservation's Hector's & Māui dolphin incident database shows 11 Hector's dolphins were caught in commercial set nets/trawls between September to now, all on the East Coast of the South Island, while another seven dolphins had washed up dead around the country or been found floating at sea.
Canterbury Regional councillor and coastal advocate Genevieve Robinson said after cameras were introduced on boats, the DOC incident database was updated as dolphin deaths were verified, highlighting the issues around bycatch in real time.
But Fisheries New Zealand had recently looked into how it would report bycatch data to the public - and said it would be released in a quarterly update, rather than the current "ad-hoc approach".
Director of fisheries science Simon Lawrence said the information currently provided at different times and in different places would now be presented in a clearer, quarterly format so people could see it in context.
"Fisheries New Zealand and the Department of Conservation respond in near-real time to captures of protected species. Depending on the situation this could range from supporting fishers to make small changes to reduce risk through to formal fishing restrictions and closures.
He said keeping track of the accidental capture of non-target species was an important part of ensuring fisheries were sustainable.
"Data about captures is also used by people with a stake in our fisheries, including commercial fishers, iwi, environmental NGOs, researchers, and fisheries scientists. In addition, we know a lot of members of the public care about bycatch and will benefit from the information refresh."
Robinson said the decision was "bloody ridiculous" as a three month wait for data did not increase transparency around dolphin bycatch deaths.
"The concern lies with the lag and what feels like held back information," she said. "It doesn't give any assistance to those trying to create change."
Hector's dolphin in Kaikoura Photo: Alison Ballance
She said the majority of Hector's dolphins caught as bycatch occurred in Canterbury and the data should be reported as close to real time as possible to give an accurate state of the environment - in order to safeguard regional framework planning and support sustainable management in the coastal policies implemented by regional councils.
"Without this information we can't give those species extra protection.
"Hector's dolphins are a red-listed species with the IUCN [International Union for Conservation of Nature], they are in demise, there has been barely any population increase since 2008 and we can't keep blaming other things, we have got to really look at the crux of the issue and we need better management."
Robinson was concerned more dolphins had been caught as bycatch since the last reported incident on the DOC database in February, and that they had not been publicly reported.
Department of Conservation director of biodiversity system and aquatic Kirstie Knowles said there had been another four Hector's dolphin deaths reported to DOC since April, that had not yet been published on the database.
They included a dolphin caught in a set net south of Timaru on 7 April and another caught in a trawl net in the same area on 28 April. On 2 May, a dolphin was caught in a trawl net in Cloudy Bay, with another caught in a trawl net off Rakaia on 30 May.
Knowles said DOC understood the need for transparency of reporting around Hector's dolphins and it was working with Fisheries NZ to determine how regularly its database would be updated to ensure accurate and regular publication of bycatch-related dolphin deaths.
"Hector's dolphins are a threatened and endemic taonga species and bycatch of this species is in no one's interest."
She said DOC was also working closely with the fishing industry and Fisheries New Zealand on bycatch reduction plans, mitigation measures, and constant improvements to prevent bycatch of Hector's dolphins.
Māui and Hector's Dolphin Defenders chair Christine Rose Photo: Supplied / Brian Moorhead
Māui and Hector's Dolphin Defenders chair Christine Rose said the move to quarterly reporting meant "more secrecy" and "less clarity and transparency" than before.
"The links on Fisheries NZ website are a horror story showing a huge range of marine mammals being killed by the fishing industry including orca, humpback whales, southern right whales, Hector's dolphins, these are some of the rarest animals in the world and the fishing industry continues to wipe them out."
Rose said the bycatch reduction plan for Hector's and Māui Dolphins was supposed to provide certainty and confidence that the risks were being managed and that dolphin bycatch was reducing, but there was no evidence of that.
"We've had at least 10 Hector's dolphins killed by the fishing industry this year already and no obvious application of the bycatch reduction plan measures that were supposed to keep the dolphins safe when this massacre became apparent."
Rose said there was no place for set nets and trawlers in Māui and Hector's habitat.
"We won't give up... every dolphin life matters, it is just unacceptable that these dolphins and that wide range of other species are being killed for no good reason as wastage in the fishing industry."