Would you like chips with that?

by frog

As a result of an OIA request, the Minister of Conservation has today released these photos of 22 common dolphins caught by trawlers in December 2007.

The Minister says it was “unusual to have such a high number of reported incidental deaths in just one month”, however a DOC scientific report shows that it has happened before, and a large bycatch is an annual occurence. Indeed, ONE trawl boat on ONE trip in the 2002/3 season caught 20 common dolphins in the same area as December’s slaughter by just four boats (the west coast of the north island)! Hell, if a car driver hit 20 sheep on a country road on one trip, do you think the farmer and police may have a few questions about their driving ability? When one considers that only 4% of trips in this area were observed that season, the total dolphin bycatch is probably way higher. The report shows 21 deaths observed in 02/03; 17 in 03/04; 17 in 04/05. The DOC report states that the sustainable level of by-catch for Common dolphins is as yet unknown.

The Government’s mealy-mouthed “working closely with fishers on improving dolphin-safe fishing practices“, “investigat[ing] why so many dolphins died in this short time, and how dolphin-safe fishing practices can be improved” [release today not online yet] and weak “voluntary Marine Mammal Operating Procedure” is simply not enough – they’ve been doing that for ages to little effect.

There are known mitigation methods to prevent much of this toll, but it costs money. The fishing industry doesn’t voluntarily protect dolphins – Government has to set high standards and enforce them! Dolphins are worth it – end of story.