The Pod - saving Māui and Hector's dolphins

20/08/2024

Dolphin number H335:
An adult female Hector’s dolphin, represents the 23rd reported dolphin mortality since September 2024, with 22 of these being Hector’s.
That’s roughly 2 dolphin deaths every month.
Dolphins are an environmental indicator, highlighting issues within our behaviour, and environment that need addressing.
Let’s break this down:
There have been 22 reported Hector’s dolphin deaths since September, with bycatch responsible for 15 of these deaths.
Twelve were male, 4 female - the remainder were undetermined.
Of these, 3 were calves, and 3 juveniles/sub-adults.
Of the toral of 22 deaths of Hector’s dolphins, 18 occured in the greater Canterbury region. Of the 15 fisheries related deaths, 13 occured in Canterbury.
More than 86% of all fisheries-related Hector’s dolphin deaths during this period, occured in Canterbury.

03/06/2024

GRAPHIC: WARNING:⚠️

This is the dorsal fin and tail fluke of a female Hector’s dolphin, which was in the prime of her life.
The injuries she inflicted are typical of fisheries related deaths, but some of these injuries were no doubt obtained through sheer panic within the trawl net she and her calf drowned in, in Pegasus bay, Canterbury.
She was a new mum. Her calf, still suckling from her, and relying on her for survival.
I won’t delve too much into their injuries obtained, or the horrors they no doubt went through as they held their breaths for up to 3 minutes.
But I will ask that their deaths not be forgotten, nor be in vain.
Let us not forget the many others which have died - because statistics show that more than 90% of all fisheries related mortalities since Sept 20, 2023 - occured in Canterbury waters.

03/05/2024

Spoke to my submission at the city council today, on the use of funds for the likes of SailGP.

From 46 min, 22 secs.

Have fun!

https://councillive.ccc.govt.nz/live-stream/

01/04/2024

Coastal advocate Genevieve Robinson for Canterbury Regional Council is having an online chat this week, about many things including submitting on the Canterbury Long Term Plan.

Head over and take a look

17/03/2024

Why is it so much more difficult to preserve native wildlife in the water, than on land?
And why, after the circus-like Grand Prix sailing performance of 2023, are we right back here again - dancing around as if nothing questionable happened?
Well, it did! We opened up the habitat of a native dolphin species struggling to maintain its population, for a high speed boat race.
Not only that, but there were times during pre-race, and racing, that dolphins were spotted including young calves too.
Daily activities on Lyttelton harbour are increasing, with cargo, fisheries, and cruise vessels putting pressures on our coastal environment and its occupants.
It concerns me, that underwater acoustic detectors are now absent from the marine mammal management plan for next week’s event - a premature decision which could prove detrimental as current and future mitigation tools.
I’m also disappointed that the public didn’t get an opportunity to ask the big gnarly questions on the management plan, or offered a chance to have their disappointment heard.
May the Hector’s be safe, and that we learn from our mistakes.

29/02/2024

Words from recent Hector’s dolphin necropsy reports: (trawl bycatch, Pegasus bay)

"This was a young healthy female calf that was still suckling from its mother. The marks on the skin are consistent with capture in a trawl net, and there was no indication of any illness or other potential cause of death"

"This dolphin had gross necropsy findings consistent with capture in a trawl net, including fresh prey in the stomach, numerous lacerations over the body and head, and a partially-encircling impression mark on the snout. She had milk in her mammary gland, showing that she was
nursing a calf at the time of her death. This was most likely the calf found in the net with her."

Image: mother and calf - Akaroa

30/01/2024

On January 22, yet another Hector’s dolphin was caught in the trawl net of a fisher operating off the coast of Timaru.
We now have 11 confirmed dolphin deaths since mid-September, 7 of which are verified as trawl fisheries bycatch - being 63% of all dolphin deaths.
During this period, almost 87% of all fisheries-related mortalities occured off the Canterbury coast.

29/01/2024

Cameras onboard boats can be highly effective when enough vessels - of all sizes, have them installed.
They should be a mandatory requirement - used alongside a robust fisheries observer programme, with data far more easily accesible to reviewers.

In my opinion, this is the only way to see a clear representation of issues faced in each region, harbour, and fishery.

19/01/2024

An update on the beluga,

Hvaldimir, the beluga whale who defected from the Russian navy. An insightful article from The New York Times tells his story.