KEY POINTS:
The Government will boost the number of "observers" on fishing boats as part of moves to save the critically endangered Maui's dolphin.
The animal is one of the rarest dolphins in the world, with only about 110 remaining. It is native to the west coast of the North Island between Dargaville and New Plymouth.
Conservationists have struggled to help save the dolphins because of the threats to them and because there is so little known about them.
Conservation Minister Chris Carter last week joined a group of conservationists and boated from the Manukau Harbour down to Port Waikato to see the dolphins.
He said the number of fisheries observers would be quadrupled to more than 400 observation days a year.
The observers check the behaviour of rare animals and their reports can lead to greater understanding. Crucially, many of the new observers will work aboard inshore fishing vessels rather than the deep water boats to get a closer look at the Maui's dolphin in its favoured habitat.
Mr Carter said the observers would also provide information about other endangered species. "Our inshore areas are home to some of our most vulnerable marine and bird species ... the Maui's and also the Hector's dolphins as well as shags, shearwaters and penguins.
"The addition of observers to fishing vessels operating in these areas will further enhance information used to protect them."
Maui's is the smallest of the world's 32 dolphin species, growing to a maximum of 1.7m and weighing about 50kg.
Numbers have dwindled because of threats including set netting, trawl fishing and pollution. Set netting was banned in 2003, but conservationists say more needs to be done.
DoC marine ranger Karl McLeod said there was an interaction between the dolphins and boats and the new observers would give an indication of what it was. The more information learned, the better chance of preventing another species becoming extinct.
"With such small numbers left it will be difficult to save them from extinction, but we would be rightly condemned if we did not try."
Dr Rochelle Constantine, a dolphin expert from the University of Auckland, said there was little time left in which to save the dolphins.
"Genetics research, boat and aerial surveys and acoustics - we need to do everything we can to understand these animals," Dr Constantine said. "We are running out of time - but while they are still alive there's still hope."
MAUI'S DOLPHIN
Status
* Critically endangered. Hit by boat propellers and caught in fishing nets. About 110 remain.
Identification
* Adult Maui's dolphins are 1.2m to 1.7m long and weigh about 50kg. They have a rounded dorsal (upper) fin and have white undersides and grey sides. The aquatic mammals take short (90 second) dives to feed on small fish and crustaceans on the ocean floor.
