KEY POINTS:
Evidence surrounding the deaths of critically endangered Maui's dolphins does not support a need to ban set netting in west coast harbours of the North Island, says a fishing lobby group.
A draft plan released by Conservation Minister Chris Carter in Auckland yesterday to help protect Hector's and Maui's dolphins included proposals to set up marine mammal sanctuaries and ban set nets in areas where the dolphins roam.
There are thought to be only 111 Maui's dolphins left in New Zealand, the population ranging from Maunganui Bluff down to Taranaki.
They were a sub-species of the Hector's dolphins of which there was an estimated population of about 7000 in the South Island.
Proposed options for the Maui's dolphins ranged from maintaining the status quo to imposing full set net bans in areas where they roamed.
Trish Rea, spokeswoman for non-commercial fisheries advocacy group option4, said yesterday there was no evidence to endorse a full ban on set netting in the North Island west coast harbours.
A Department of Conservation database listed 17 reported Maui's dolphin mortalities since 1988 and only two had been blamed on fishing activity, although non-reporting could mean the mortalities were underestimated.
Ms Rea said since set net restrictions were introduced in 2003, there had been no reported Maui's dolphin deaths from fishing.
The restrictions applied to an area four nautical miles off the coast from Maunganui Bluff (north of Dargaville) to Pariokariwa Point (north of New Plymouth) and the mouth of the Manukau Harbour.
Ms Rea said that should be sufficient, although a proposed option in the draft plan to extend the ban further into mouths of harbours and the Waikato River could be considered.
She thought the second option to prohibit overnight set-netting and require fishers to remain close to their nets was the likely outcome but would need discussion.
But Ms Rea said fishers would fiercely oppose the third option of a total ban on set nets within harbours.
The draft plan had noted that Maui's dolphins were not typically encountered in harbours, unlike Hector's dolphins.
Although the plan said scientific and anecdotal information indicated fishing was the biggest cause of human induced mortality of both dolphins, it also noted the nature and extent of the threats remained highly uncertain due to gaps in available information.
However, the life history and population size of Maui's dolphins meant they were threatened by any human-induced mortality which would have to be eliminated to reduce the extinction risk for the population.
Forest and Bird conservation advocate Kirstie Knowles said the draft was a step towards a nationwide set net ban.
"Set nets are not only the most serious threat to Hector's and Maui's dolphins, this indiscriminate method also kills a wide range of marine life."
Forest and Bird wanted set netting and trawling banned inside marine mammal sanctuaries.
Green MP Metiria Turei said the plan was too little too late and urged the Government to ban set netting.
Submissions close on October 24, with a decision expected in November and interim measures could be in place by the year's end.
Rare mammal
* Maui's dolphins mature late (7-9 years), have a slow reproductive rate (one calf every 2-3 years) and live to around 20 years old.
* Population is critically small (111 individuals).
* May be fewer than 30 breeding females in the population.
* Of four reported mortalities since a 2003 set net prohibition, none has been attributed to fishing.
Maui's dolphins options (in addition to existing ban)
Option 1: Extend existing ban further into harbour mouths and Waikato river but leave inner harbours as-is.
Option 2: Prohibit overnight set-netting and require fishers to remain close to their nets while they are out.
Option 3: Prohibit all set netting in all west coast North Island harbours and further out and down the coast.
