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Maui’s: Small in size and number
Maui's dolphins (popoto) are the world’s rarest marine dolphins and are found only of the north-west coast of the North Island.
Maui's: Quick Facts
• The Maui’s dolphin is a North Island sub-species, which is genetically distinct from the South Island Hector's dolphin.
• Maui’s dolphins are very slow breeders and typically only have one calf every two or three years.
• They are easily spotted by their rounded dorsal fin, which looks similar to a Mickey Mouse ear.
• They have a short snout and white “flames” up their body.
They are so small they could fit into a bathtub, and have a distinctive round dorsal fin, so they are easy to tell apart from more common dolphin species..
Listed as critically endangered by the World Conservation Union - www.redlist.org - Maui’s dolphins have an estimated population of only about 111 individuals.
Maui's dolphins are in a critical situation because their population may include fewer than 60 mature animals, with only about 25 breeding females.
As well as being slow breeders the pool of potential mates for Maui’s dolphins is very small, meaning that inbreeding may occur. Inbreeding reduces the gene pool and creates a higher chance of birth defects and genetic problems. Maui’s dolphins are on the brink of extinction and urgently need our help.
19th Century population & now
In the 19th Century Maui's dolphins were found around the North Island coastline, from Tuaroa Point in Northland to mid-Bay of Plenty (see map).
In the 1970s most strandings (the main indicator of historical distribution) were around the lower North Taranaki Bight. A decline in the reported deaths in this area indicates the rapid shrinking of their distribution.
Maui’s dolphins are now found only from Maunganui Bluff (near Dargaville) to just south of New Plymouth - most commonly between Manukau Harbour and Port Waikato (see map).
Threats – set nets and trawling
Maui’s dolphins prefer shallow waters, which brings them into direct contact with humans and makes them particularly vulnerable to their main threat: fishing.
What is being done?
In June 2007 Forest & Bird launched a proposal to establish a Marine Mammal Sanctuary for Maui’s dolphins off the west coast of the North Island. Following extensive consultation, a formal proposal was presented to the minister of Conservation in February 2008.
Click here for a copy of the Forest & Bird proposal for a Marine Mammal Sanctuary to protect Maui's dolphins.(PDF)
In May 2008, new measures to protect Maui’s dolphins were announced. These came into force on 1 October 2008 and include –
| Solution | Problem |
|---|---|
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Set Netting Ban |
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| Trawling Ban Trawling is banned within two nautical miles of the coast, and within four nautical miles in core Maui’s dolphin habitat (Manukau to Port Waikato). |
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| Marine Mammal Sanctuary A new West coast North Island Marine Mammal Sanctuary:
The MMS includes restrictions on acoustic seismic surveys plus a 2 nautical mile ban on mineral mining (4 nautical mile ban on mining in core Maui’s area - north of Manukau Harbour to south Raglan harbour)
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Solutions
> The critically endangered Maui's dolphin cannot withstand deaths caused by fishing methods if it is to survive and recover to a safe population size. Fishing regulations should be extended, particularly along the southernmost boundary, around Taranaki.
> Protection of waters between the North and South Island is needed to allow the expansion of the dolphins’ range to encourage the expansion of their genetic pool.