It is fact that the Hector’s dolphin is estimated to number around 7,400 from 29,000 in the late 1970s. But one of its sub-species, the Maui dolphin, is recorded to be the rarest in the world and is facing extinction with only 111 dolphins left. For the death of Hector’s dolphins overfishing to be blamed for up to three-quarters. Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton told that the measures strike the best achievable balance between the protection of these iconic dolphins and the activities of our commercial and recreational fishers.
According to Anderton these measures were estimated to cost the commercial fishing industry up to 295 jobs and NZ$79.1 million over the next 10 years. And that can be done for the sake of dolphins which grow to around 1.4 meters (40 inches) compared with up to 4 meters for the common Bottlenose dolphin, live around 20 years, and breed slowly. It is said that the dolphins usually live in a small groups of no more than five and feed on inshore fish species, which brings them into contact with fishing nets.
But for the conservationists these measures are not adequate to protect the rare dolphins. Dr Barbara Mass of the Care for the Wild International group, said that these measures fails to ensure the dolphins’ recovery or survival. According to commercial fishing industry these measures would rather ruin some businesses.
