Fishermen in Taranaki, New Zealand, say money and jobs have already been lost in just under two weeks since set net bans were extended to protect the endangered Maui’s dolphin.
The Ministry of Primary Industries announced last month that existing recreational and commercial set net bans would be extended along the Taranaki coast from Pariokariwa Point south to Hawera, and out to two nautical miles.
Commercial fisherman Ian McDougal said by losing the two miles, he would lose around $100,000 of income.
“And not only that, I am going to lose around 30% of my sea time because we can’t fish in close during rough weather.”
McDougal said the ban also restricts species fishermen can catch, including the Warehau, which is their main target in winter but lives close to the coast.
World Wildlife Fund marine programme manager Rebecca Bird said there was clear evidence fishing nets do more damage to the species than other factors, such as pollution or boat strikes.
“Our focus has been on the key threat to these dolphins, which is fishing,” she told TV ONE’s Close Up.
“We cannot have these two industries coexisting at the moment, gill-netting and dolphins do not mix.”
Fishing company Ocean Pearl was the first to cut jobs in anticipation of the ban. Owner Rob Ansley said he cut his staff from 18 workers to around six.
Former Ocean Pearl employee Warwick Chiles was told the set net ban had cost him his career, even though he had not seen a dolphin in two decades.
“We try and tell them we haven’t seen dolphins out there for over twenty years, any Hector’s or Maui’s dolphins.
“They don’t believe us. As far as we’re concerned, fisherman are just liars.”
However, Bird said there had been verified sightings, from both researchers and the public, to prove Maui’s dolphins are in the area.
“We have unequivocal proof that in January this year a dolphin was caught in a net off the coast of Taranaki.”
Bird said she did not wish jobs to be lost over the matter, rather a compromise be made as to how fish were caught.
Restrictions are in place until the man-made risks facing the 55 Maui’s dolphins left are assessed in a report, due in November.
TVNZ.co.nz