The government of New Zealand is under pressure as the call for banning two types of fishing nets started pouring from the protestors to save rare dolphins of the country. Recently the death of 22 dolphins in trawler nets spark the protest that demand the banning of two types of fishing nets from the habitats of two critically endangered species of dolphin.
According to the World Wildlife Fund Maui’s dolphins, which are found only along North Island’s west coast and are on the brink of extinction, urgently need protection from set nets and trawler nets. As per official estimation there are only 111 Maui’s dolphins still alive in the wild.
These dolphins are in great danger from set nest that are used by recreational fishers near the coastline, while large trawl nets are used further out to sea in commercial fishing to catch large schools of fish. Recently the photograph of 22 dolphins killed in trawler nets off North Island’s west coast were proof that current fishing controls are failing to protect endangered dolphins, opined Chris Howe, the executive director of the WWF’s New Zealand branch.
It showed that the fishing industry cannot be trusted to follow the voluntary code of practice that currently protects the species. Howe informed that all fishing with set nets and trawl nets should be banned throughout the range of Hector’s and Maui’s dolphins. He added that it is the only way to preserve dolphins, a slow-breeding, rare species on earth.
Conservation Minister Steve Chadwick said the authority is looking into the matter and considering plan to manage the protection of those endangered species. Owen Symmans, CEO of the New Zealand Seafood Industry Council, told that the “accidental capture” of 22 dolphins was regrettable.
