The scientists of New Zealand has expressed their grave concern over the use of nets by commercial fishing which is putting at risk the future of a breed of dolphin. Otago University’s Associate Professors Liz Slooten and Steve Dawson have informed that their studies have shown the accidental catch of the Hector’s Dolphin is ten times more than is sustainable for the survival of the breed. According to them the dolphin’s numbers could drop to around 5,000 over the next fifty years if measure are not taken to alter the fishing method which results in the entanglement of the dolphins in fishing gear such as the popular gillnets.
Associate Professor Slooten expressed that it is highly significant that all of these analyses indicate that Hector’s dolphin populations are declining so rapidly. She continued saying if they were protected from fisheries mortality throughout their range they could recover to some 15,000 individuals over that same time. The research report shows that 110-150 Hector’s dolphins have been killed each year during 2000-2006.
Associate Professor Slooten opined that I is important to emphasise that the PBR [Potential Biological Removal] for Hector’s dolphins is a maximum level of total human impact which, if exceeded, would likely cause further population depletion. Fisheries mortality needs to be kept well below these levels, given that there are other human impacts on the species – including pollution, marine mining and proposed tidal energy generation.
