Environment Waikato backs efforts to save endangered dolphin

Environment Waikato is giving $33,000 to the Waikato Royal Forest and
Bird Society to help save the critically endangered Maui's dolphin.

Maui's dolphins are considered the world's rarest marine dolphins and
are found only around the west coast of New Zealand's North Island.

It is estimated there are only 110 left and of these the population may
include only 60 mature animals and only 25 breeding females.

Research in 2005 showed the highest densities are between Manukau
Harbour and Port Waikato. However, efforts to save the dolphin are
complicated by a lack of data and little or no monitoring has been done
in Raglan, Kawhia and Aotea harbours.

Environment Waikato's grant will help to fund research into whether or
not the dolphins visit these areas.

Acoustic pods will be placed around the harbours to record dolphin
activity by researchers based at Otago University in conjunction with
the Department of Conservation (DOC). The research will be peer
reviewed to ensure that it accurately tests for the presence or absence
of dolphins.

Information gathered during this research will help DOC and the Ministry
of Fisheries develop appropriate management options for the dolphin.

It will also be useful in future when Environment Waikato makes resource
management decisions for these areas.

Environment Waikato is responsible for protecting biodiversity in the
Waikato region.

Cr Paula Southgate said that a Maui's dolphin had recently been found
dead along the Raglan coast, highlighting the species' precarious
position.

She said she was committed to supporting environmental initiatives and
believed the organisation had to take responsibility for the kind of
community projects supported by the Environmental Initiatives Fund.

"A nearly extinct dolphin is about as serious as it gets," she said.