Hectors and Maui dolphins are one of New Zealand’s most playful endemic species, but are now on the verge of extinction due to large scale and destructive commercial fishing, which involve using large sea nets.
Although the dolphins have an extensive home range throughout the North and South Island of New Zealand, only a fraction of this area is protected, which is shown by the green on this map
The population has been reduced to only 27% of its original size since 1970. This is due to inaction from the government to extend the no netting area and to decrease the bycatch from 150 dolphins to a more sustainable figure. these net’s are a major cause of death as the dolphins become entangled in them and suffer a slow death through drowning.
Every single death from now on threatens the survival of an entire species, there is no time left. Let our generation vary from those before us and be responsible for the survival of a native species not the extinction of one.
go on, sign our petition, pressure the government, and lets save the hectors dolphin.
