Jet ski dolphin tours plan for Canterbury harbour prompts environmental concerns

Tuesday, 18 January 2022

Hector’s dolphins, such as this one spotted leaping in Canterbury’s Akaroa Harbour, are nationally vulnerable.

An adventure tourism company has applied to run jet ski-based dolphin tours in Canterbury’s Lyttelton Harbour, leaving environmentalists aghast about the potential impact on wildlife.

The harbour is home to Hector’s dolphins, one of the world’s smallest dolphin species and regarded as nationally vulnerable.

Christchurch-based Jet Junkies, which already offers jetpack rides and guided jet ski tours, has applied to the Department of Conservation (DOC) for a marine mammal permit to offer tours using jet skis.

If granted, it would be the first tourism venture of its type in New Zealand.

The proposed tours would run in Lyttelton Harbour.

* Rare sighting of world's biggest and smallest dolphins in Akaroa Harbour

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But environmentalists are concerned such tours could endanger the dolphins and put them at risk of collisions or damage from the sound of the vehicles.

The five-year permit would allow the company to run tours around Lyttelton Harbour and the surrounding headlands, offering tourists the chance to see native wildlife like Hector’s dolphins and fur seals.

Chief executive Kevin Scovell said the business wanted to be an ambassador for safe jet ski use around marine mammals.

Scovell said the marine mammal trips would be different from the company’s usual tours.

“With the proposed marine mammal tour the guide will always be at the front of the group, whether he or she is on the Sealver jet ski boat or a jet ski.

Some Lyttelton locals are concerned jet skis could be disruptive to marine mammals (File photo).

“The other two jet skis will remain behind or alongside the guide at all times, this allows the guide to set the pace – slow and steady, with no wake.”

Jet skis had no open propellers, he said, so were a lot safer if an animal was to come close.

“Yes, jet skis have the potential for high speed, but if someone has paid for a marine mammal tour they will be fully informed that this is purely for viewing pleasure and educational purposes.”

Jet Junkies prided itself on the correct use of jet skis, would follow all DOC and Maritime NZ rules and guidelines, and would make regular donations to either DOC or marine mammal charities, Scovell said.

“We value and pride our business on our safety record and protection of our expensive equipment.”

Commercial fishing vessels must now operate with on-board cameras in an attempt to save the rare Māui dolphin population, and Māori are playing their part in helping to protect the endangered mammals (video first published August 2019).

In its application to DOC, the company asked that it forgets about the “general public and the minority of jet ski users that give jet skis a bad name”.

Local Hector’s dolphin advocate Genevieve Robinson was sceptical about the proposal, saying it left too many questions unanswered.

“There’s not enough information, [we need to know] the number of tours each day, the decibel-limit for the jet-skis.”

While other companies run boat-based wildlife tours in the area, Robinson said jet skis were “a different kettle of fish”, and could be disruptive to marine mammals.

“What you hear above the water is louder below.”

At any given time, 20 Hector’s dolphins could be in the harbour, Robinson said.

Professor Liz Slooten is concerned about the cumulative impacts on Hector’s dolphins.

“I don’t think just anyone should be able to do something like this, it’s a privilege that has to be earned by people who know what they're doing – and definitely not from a jet ski.”

Otago University zoology professor Liz Slooten said marine mammal tourism could have a positive effect for wildlife.

“It can educate people, make them go home and think, ‘Hmm, I’m going to think about my impact on the environment’.”

But she said she was unsure it was best done from jet skis.

“The thing I’m most concerned about is collisions. If they’re going too fast, the dolphins might not have time to dive out of the way.”

Slooten said Lyttelton’s Hector’s dolphins were already dealing with a lot of activity in their environment.

“We also need to think about the cumulative impact,” she said. “DOC needs to consider not just this tourism operation, but fishing, dredging, shipping, agriculture. What impact will this have on top of that?”

Banks Peninsula Community Board Lyttelton representative Tyrone Fields said the application had to be considered based on its merits.

But he thought the community would likely be against it.

“I’m pretty concerned about protecting the dolphins, and about the impact on the recreational amenity of the harbour. Both of those have to be put ahead of any commercial benefit.”

Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke was also approached for comment.

DOC permissions manager Judi Brennan said jet skis were considered vessels, so the same rules applied as for boats.

Vessels are not allowed to travel fast enough to create a wake within 300 metres of marine mammals, and there are not allowed to be more than three within that distance, she said.

“If approaching marine mammals, vessels should do so from a direction that is parallel and slightly to the rear. Vessels should not circle marine mammals, obstruct their path or cut through any groups.”

For whales, vessels should stay at least 50m away – 200m for mothers with calves.

Brennan said no commercial jet ski operators had yet been granted marine mammal permits.

DOC is taking public submissions on the application until midday, February 15.

Anyone can have their say by emailing permissionschristchurch@doc.govt.nz

*CORRECTION: The Department of Conservation initially provided the incorrect date for public submissions closing. The correct date is midday, February 15. (Amended January 19, 2022, 9.35am)