Submitted by
Barry.WEEBER.2
on Sat, 11/30/2019 - 11:24
General Information
Resolution
44109
IUCN Constituent
Environment and Conservation Organisations of New Zealand
IUCN Constituent type
IUCN Member organisation
Period covered
Geographic scope
Pacific Ocean
Country/Territory
New Zealand
II. Implementation
Activities carried out to implement this Resolution
Activity
Policy influencing/advocacy
Description and results/achievements of activities:
This resolution - operative para 1 - has not been implemented to protect critically endangered Maui dolphin and endangered Hector's dolphin.
For Maui dolphins the International Whaling Commission’s (IWC) Scientific Committee Small Cetacean
Working Group has recommended action over several years. In 2018 they stated:
“Nonetheless, the sub-committee noted that no new management action has been enacted
since 2013 and concludes, as it has repeatedly in the past, that existing management
measures in relation to bycatch mitigation fall short of what has been recommended
previously and expresses continued grave concern over the status of this small, severely
depleted subspecies. The human-caused death of even one individual would increase the
extinction risk.
The sub-committee:
(a) re-emphasises that the critically endangered status of this subspecies and the inherent
and irresolvable uncertainty surrounding information on most small populations point to
the need for precautionary management;
(b) reiterates its previous recommendation that highest priority should be assigned to
immediate management actions to eliminate bycatch of Māui dolphins including closures
of any fisheries within the range of Māui dolphins that are known to pose a risk of bycatch
to dolphins (i.e. set net and trawl fisheries); and
(c) notes that the confirmed current range extends from Maunganui Bluff in the north to
Whanganui in the south, offshore to 20 n.miles, and it includes harbours - within this
defined area, fishing methods other than set nets and trawling should be used”
The NZ Government has yet to put forward measures which would meet the requirements in the resolution or the recommendations of the IWC Small Cetacean Committee.
For Maui dolphins the International Whaling Commission’s (IWC) Scientific Committee Small Cetacean
Working Group has recommended action over several years. In 2018 they stated:
“Nonetheless, the sub-committee noted that no new management action has been enacted
since 2013 and concludes, as it has repeatedly in the past, that existing management
measures in relation to bycatch mitigation fall short of what has been recommended
previously and expresses continued grave concern over the status of this small, severely
depleted subspecies. The human-caused death of even one individual would increase the
extinction risk.
The sub-committee:
(a) re-emphasises that the critically endangered status of this subspecies and the inherent
and irresolvable uncertainty surrounding information on most small populations point to
the need for precautionary management;
(b) reiterates its previous recommendation that highest priority should be assigned to
immediate management actions to eliminate bycatch of Māui dolphins including closures
of any fisheries within the range of Māui dolphins that are known to pose a risk of bycatch
to dolphins (i.e. set net and trawl fisheries); and
(c) notes that the confirmed current range extends from Maunganui Bluff in the north to
Whanganui in the south, offshore to 20 n.miles, and it includes harbours - within this
defined area, fishing methods other than set nets and trawling should be used”
The NZ Government has yet to put forward measures which would meet the requirements in the resolution or the recommendations of the IWC Small Cetacean Committee.
Status
On-going
Describe any challenges encountered in implementing this Resolution and the measures taken
The failure of Government agencies to engage in a transparent way with the science and management processes. The IWC Small Cetacean group has been a useful scientific reviewer on action.
Please report on the result /achievement of the actions taken
ECO and other NGO members of IUCN in NZ has been urging the NZ Government to take action to protect Maui and Hector's dolphin from fisheries bycatch. A new threat management plan and limited action has been proposed by Government agencies. ECO is concerned that current flawed process of updating the threat management plan for the dolphins and the limited actions proposed will again fail these these dolphins. This has been pointed out in submissions to the NZ Government.
Identify and briefly describe what future actions/activities are planned for the implementation of this Resolution
Future action / activity
Policy influencing/advocacy
Description
ECO, its members, have been highlighting the problem with actions proposed and the action proposed in this resolution. ECO will work to highlight the failure of Government agencies to adequately address the threats fishing pose to the dolphins.
Report status
Published
Constituent type
IUCN Member