1 August 2023 - 31 July 2024
Introduction
This is a summary of reported Hector's and Māui dolphin incidents during the period 1 August 2023 - 31 July 2024.This year is now closed.
Summary of the year's incidents:
- There were 21 Hector's dolphin deaths and one Māui dolphin death reported to DOC during this time period.
- Bycatch was responsible for 15 of these deaths (all Hector's dolphins from the east coast of the South Island).
- The remaining dolphins were primarily found beachcast, and one was found floating at sea.
- Necropsies were conducted on 16 dolphins.
- 12 of the dolphins were male, 3 were female, and 7 were unknown.
- 14 were adults, 3 were calves, 3 were juveniles or subadults, 2 were unknown.
| ID | Date observed | Sex | Age class | Location | Popn1 | Obs type | Necropsy status | Possible cause of death | Pathology report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
H319 6517 |
Sep 2023 | Male | Adult | Timaru | ECSI | Entanglement - trawl | Complete |
Known bycatch in a commercial trawl |
H319 (PDF, 30K) |
|
H320 6518 |
22 Oct 2023 | Male | Adult | Rakaia, Chch | ECSI | Beachcast | Complete |
Natural causes - disease |
H320 final (PDF, 27K) |
|
6524 |
Nov 2023 | Unknown | Adult | Otago | ECSI | Entanglement - set net | None |
Known bycatch in a commercial set net |
NA |
| 6523 | Nov 2023 | Male | Adult | Kaikoura | ECSI | Entanglement - set net | None |
Known bycatch in a commercial set net |
NA |
|
H321 6525 |
Dec 2023 | Male | Adult | Banks Peninsula | ECSI | Entanglement - trawl | Complete |
Known bycatch in a commercial trawl |
H321 (PDF, 25K) |
|
H322 6526 |
Dec 2023 | Female | Adult | Pegasus Bay | ECSI | Entanglement - trawl | Complete |
Known bycatch in a commercial trawl |
H322 (PDF, 25K) |
|
H323 6527 |
20 Dec 2023 | Unknown | Neonate | Karioitahi, Auckland | WCNI | Beachcast | Pending |
|
|
|
H324 6528 |
Jan 2024 | Male | Adult | Timaru | ECSI | Entanglement - trawl | Complete |
Known bycatch in a commercial trawl |
H324 (PDF, 25K) |
|
H325 6529 |
17 Jan 2024 | Male | Juvenile | Lyttleton Harbour | ECSI | Floating at sea | Incomplete - too decomposed |
NA |
NA |
| 6530 | 18 Dec 2023 | Unknown | Adult | Fortrose | SCSI | Beachcast | NA - decomposed |
Unknown |
|
|
H326 6531 |
Jan 2024 | Male | Adult | Timaru | ECSI | Entanglement - trawl | Complete |
Known bycatch in a commercial trawl |
H326 (PDF, 25K) |
|
H327 6532 |
09 Feb 2024 | Male | Adult | Quail Island, Christchurch | ECSI | Beachcast | Complete |
Natural causes - non-infectious disease |
H327 (PDF, 27K) |
|
H328 6533 |
09 Feb 2024 | Male | Subadult | Greymouth | WCSI | Beachcast | Complete |
Blunt force trauma - unknown cause |
H328 (PDF, 24K) |
|
H329 6534 |
Feb 2024 | Male | Adult | Pegasus Bay | ECSI | Entanglement - trawl | Complete |
Known bycatch in a commercial trawl |
H329 (PDF, 26K) |
|
H330 6535 |
Feb 2024 | Female | Adult | Pegasus Bay | ECSI | Entanglement - trawl | Complete |
Known bycatch in a commercial trawl |
H330 (PDF, 25K) |
|
H331 6535 |
Feb 2024 | Female | Calf | Pegasus Bay | ECSI | Entanglement - trawl | Complete |
Known bycatch in a commercial trawl |
H331 (PDF, 27K) |
| 6541 | 27 Feb 2024 | Unknown | Calf | Christchurch | ECSI | Beachcast | NA decomposed |
Unknown |
NA |
|
H332 6536 |
Feb 2024 | Male | Adult | Timaru | ECSI | Entanglement - trawl | Complete |
Known bycatch in a commercial trawl |
H332 (PDF, 21K) |
|
H333 6537 |
Apr 2024 | Male | Subadult | Timaru | ECSI | Entanglement - set net | Complete |
Known bycatch in a commercial set net |
H333 (PDF, 24K) |
|
H334 6538 |
Apr 2024 | Male | Adult | Timaru | ECSI | Entanglement - trawl | Complete |
Known bycatch in a commercial trawl |
H334 (PDF, 27K) |
| 6539 | May 2024 | Unk | Unk | Cloudy Bay | ECSI | Entanglement - trawl | None |
Known bycatch in a commercial trawl |
NA |
| 6540 | May 2024 | Unk | Unk | Rakaia | ECSI | Entanglement - trawl | None |
Known bycatch in a commercial trawl |
NA |