Good news for southern right whales, but others remain at risk - report

Friday, 24 May 2019

WWF NZ researcher Amanda Leathers explains why Hector's and Māui dolphin are on the brink of extinction. (First published May 9, 2019)

Ten marine mammals including Māui and Hector's Dolphins are threatened or at risk in New Zealand, a new report has found.

Only five of the marine mammal species assessed are not considered to be threatened, and southern right whales improved their risk status, according to the Marine Mammal Threat report released Sunday.

The Government will release a threat management plan for Māui and Hector's dolphins within the next month.

Conservation minister Eugenie Sage says more needs to be done to protect the vulnerable species from fishing by-catch - dolphins killed unintentionally in nets.

*Dr Jane Goodall warns New Zealand's environment is 'in crisis'

*Last gasp of a dying dolphin. Are we too late to save Māui?**

'The industry needs to take full measures to reduce that bycatch for fishing to be sustainable,' she said.

Sightings of the Matariki whale in Wellington weren't just a fluke.

'It's important that people realise their precarious situation.'

DOC marine mammal biologist Dr Dave Lundquist said the marine mammals were vulnerable to the impact of human activities.

'We need to be vigilant in reducing and mitigating these effects.'

Hector's dolphins have gained a better conservation status, from 'threatened - nationally endangered' to 'threatened - nationally vulnerable', but their populations are still a long way from being out of danger.

Between 10-15,000 Hector's dolphin remain, down from 29,000 in the last 45 years, and their population is still considered declining.

Their improved population status comes from estimates showing more Hector's dolphins around the South Island than previously thought, rather than any actual improvement in the species.

Maui's dolphins are distinguishable from other dolphin species by their rounded dorsal fin and small body.

'The situation appears to have improved in some locations for Hector's dolphins due to protection measures being put in place,' Lundquist said.

However, the dolphins are still exposed to risks in much of their habitat outside protected areas.

The report says fragmentation of the Hector's dolphin population and lost connectivity between subpopulations is concerning.

Māui dolphin status remains 'threatened - nationally critical' and only about 60 remain.

Of the 57 species listed, 10 are considered 'threatened' or 'at risk'.

Bryde's whales, Māui dolphins, the southern elephant seal, orca and bottlenose dolphins are threatened and nationally critical with 250 or less mature individuals.

The five marine mammal species which are not considered threatened are the New Zealand fur seal, the common dolphin, the long-finned pilot whale and the dusky dolphin.

However there's good news for the southern right whale status, which improved from 'threatened - nationally vulnerable' to 'at risk - recovering' since the last report in 2013.

It means the occurrence of Matariki the Wellington whale wasn't just a fluke - the report says the southern right whale population is growing at a rate of 7 per cent each year.

Data showed there's genuine improvement in the status of southern right whales since industrial whaling ended, Lundquist said.

The report says the panel noted with concern 30 of the 57 species listed in the report are 'Data Deficient', and lack of data prevents them from being assessed.

'We don't know much about many of the marine mammal species that live in NZ waters,' Lundquist said.

'We'd like to see more research in this area so we can better understand the threats facing these creatures and design work to mitigate them.'