A new abundance estimate for Maui’s dolphin: What does it mean for managing this critically endangered species? |
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Authors: | Elisabeth Slooten Stephen Dawson William Rayment Simon Childerhouse |
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Institution: | a Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand b Department of Marine Science, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand c Science and Research Unit, Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 10-420, Wellington, New Zealand |
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Abstract: | Hector’s dolphin Cephalorhynchus hectori is found only in New Zealand waters. We carried out a population survey of the North Island subspecies Cephalorhychus hectori maui, also known as Maui’s dolphin. The total population size estimate is 111 individuals (95% confidence interval = 48-252). The small population size confirms its critically endangered IUCN status. A sustainable level of human-caused mortality for this population would be 0.16 (one dolphin every 6.4 years). This essentially means that fisheries bycatch, and where possible other human impacts, need to be eliminated to allow population recovery. A protected area has been created to reduce the threat from entanglement in fishing gear. Gillnet fishing is prohibited along a 210 nautical mile stretch of coastline. The main concerns are that gillnet fishing is still allowed inside harbours and trawling continues inside the protected area. |
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Keywords: | Abundance Population survey Hector&rsquo s dolphin Gillnet Fisheries bycatch |
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