Skip to content
All articles
  • All articles
  • About whales & dolphins
  • Create healthy seas
  • End captivity
  • Green Whale
  • Prevent deaths in nets
  • Scottish Dolphin Centre
  • Stop whaling
Orca Lulu's body contained PCB levels 100x above the safe limit. Image: SMASS

Toxic tides, troubled whales: the toll of chemical pollution

In last week's blog, we examined the challenges whales and dolphins face as they travel...
Group of orcas at surface

Breaking barriers for whales and dolphins at the Convention of Migratory Species

Many species of whales, dolphins and porpoises undertake long journeys, encountering human-made obstacles along the...
Tokyo

WDC in Japan – Part 1: Finding allies in Tokyo

At the end of May, I embarked on an incredible journey to Japan on behalf...
Amazon river dolphins leaping

The state of river dolphin conservation

At Whale and Dolphin Conservation, we partner with conservationists and communities fighting to save river...
Researchers in Southeast Alaska studying whale poo

We’re funding crucial research on whale poo to combat the climate crisis

The ocean is one of the lungs of our planet, and whales help it to...
Narwhal surfacing

The unicorns of the sea must be protected – CITES

The narwhal, is under threat. Often referred to as the unicorns of the sea, narwhals,...
Sperm whales

We’re pushing governments for action for our climate heroes – whales

The climate crisis is the greatest threat to all life on Earth. But there is...
Dolphins captured for captivity in Taiji. Image: Hans Peter Roth

Loved and killed – whales and dolphins in Japan

Protests and criticism from outside Japan in response to the slaughter of whales and dolphins...

Extinction emergency – we need action right now to save New Zealand dolphins

Every year on 8 June we celebrate World Oceans Day - a day when we’re encouraged to think about the oceans and the impact that we humans are having on the marine environment and the creatures who live there.

I don’t think the health of the oceans has ever been higher in the public consciousness. Blue Planet and Blue Planet II took us under the waves and revealed some of the astonishing mysteries of the deep, whilst shining an uncomfortable spotlight on the harm that we are wreaking on our seas.

A group of New Zealand dolphins leaping
A group of Hector's dolphins leaping. © Rob Pine

Human activities are pushing some marine species towards extinction, including some of the smallest dolphins in the world. Collectively known as New Zealand dolphins, Hector’s and Māui dolphins live only around the coast of New Zealand and they are dying in fishing nets at a rate that will see them extinct if we don’t change our behaviour around them and remove the destructive fishing nets from their home. Nobody wants to catch a dolphin in their net, so we need to work together to ensure that fishers can fish and earn their living without harming dolphins. In this case, that means a no-trawling and no set nets zone within the dolphins’ habitat.

trawls and set nets original artwork RICHARDPALMERGRAPHICS.COM edited for republication

With your support, we’ve been working hard to save these beautiful, intelligent little dolphins. More than 41,000 of you signed our petition, calling on the New Zealand government to remove the killer nets from the areas where these dolphins live. If you were one of those people, thank you so much – you’ve played an important part in helping us get government attention to try to get these dolphins the protection they desperately need.

To prevent a New Zealand dolphin extinction will take a massive effort involving both public pressure and behind-the-scenes political lobbying and campaigning. Thanks to donations from our amazing supporters, we’ve been able to produce this briefing for politicians and conservation agencies.

Our parliamentay briefing

It clearly lays out the issue and the steps needed to save the dolphins. We’ve brought together our colleagues in international conservation organisations and local New Zealand charities so we are all unified in calling on Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern to be on the right side of history and act now to save these endemic New Zealand mammals.

maui_dolphin_social_1200

Now we’re planning a series of meetings and briefings with New Zealand ministers, MPs and media representatives to discuss the problem and solution with them. We also need to enlist the support of key individuals and influencers. I’m so proud to share this picture with you of my WDC colleagues, Philippa Brakes and Gemma McGrath meeting with one of my conservation heroes, Dame Jane Goodall. They talked with her about our campaign and her support will be a very important force for change.

Jane Goodall shows support for our campaign
Jane Goodall shows support for our campaign
WDC's Philippa Brakes and Gemma McGrath talk with Jane Goodall about our campaign to save New Zealand dolphins
WDC's Philippa Brakes and Gemma McGrath talk with Jane Goodall about our campaign to save New Zealand dolphins

We need to get this extinction emergency high on the New Zealand political agenda and convince decision-makers to act with urgency and determination. It’s no good skirting around the edges anymore – if we don’t convince the fishing industry and recreational fishers to take decisive action now, it really will be too late. Extinction is forever – there will be no second chance to get this right. Whether these dolphins survive and thrive or vanish from our planet forever is up to us, right here, right now. Thank you for playing your part.

Want to help us save these little dolphins?

Play your part in preventing an extinction by making a donation.

Leave a Comment