31 January 2002 - Wellington
MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE USE
dolphin deaths alarming - Action needed on Set nets
Forest and Bird is calling for urgent action to ban set nets in the Marlborough Sound after the deaths of six common
dolphins were linked to set nets.
Forest and Bird Senior Researcher, Barry Weeber said the dolphin deaths highlight the impact set nets cause to dolphins
and other vulnerable marine species.
Mr Weeber said fishers are legally required to report dolphin deaths under the Marine Mammals Protection Act but usually
did not unless a fisheries observer was present.
"The Ministry of Fisheries and the Department of Conservation must take immediate action to restrict the use of set nets
so that this carnage doesn't continue."
Mr Weeber said a range of threatened species were caught in set nets including Hector's dolphin, penguins and shags.
"Hector's dolphins are drowned by set nets in significant numbers around the South Island and are found in the outer
Marlborough Sounds. "In 1998, for example, 19 dolphin carcasses were found on Canterbury beaches and 12 of those had net
or knife marks and another two dolphins had to be released from a set net.
"This high level of human induced mortality cannot be sustained by a slow breeding species such as Hector's Dolphin.
"Unless set nets are outlawed throughout the dolphin's range, the recent increased protection of Hector's Dolphin under
the Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978 will not be enough to save the dolphins.".
For more information on the impact of set nets, please see www.forest-bird.org.nz/marine/fish_impacts
Barry Weeber Senior Researcher Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society PO Box 631 Wellington New Zealand Phone
64-4-385-7374 Fax 64-4-385-7373 www.forest-bird.org.nz