It Take's More Than A Community To Make A Change
These dolphins are our friends. Fishing regulations need to be extended immediately by politicians. By taking proactive steps we can help this species recover to a safe population size. You as a reader can make a big difference whether you live in New Zealand or are an eco-warrior in another country. They are critically endangered dolphins who need increased protection now! These are some ways you can help:
Hector's Dolphins swimming underwater
Courtesy of Arkive
Specifically What You Can Do:
Just don’t eat it!!
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Boycott or Avoid these fish because they are overfished or farmed (caught: Gillnets or bottom trawling) in a way that destroys the environment or harms other marine life (bycatch!)
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Basa/Pangasius/Swai
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Cod: Pacific (Japan and Russia)
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Crab: Blue Swimming (Asia)
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Halibut: Atlantic (wild)
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Lobster: spiny ( Belize, Brazil, Honduras, and Nicaragua)
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Mahi Mahi (Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Peru)
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Orange Roughy
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Pollock (Canada Trawl)
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Salmon:
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Chinook (Puget Sound)
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Coho (Columbia River)
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Atlantic (farmed)
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Sardines: Atlantic (Mediterranean)
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Sharks (don’t even think about eating the population control of the ocean!)
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Shrimp (imported, if not listed )(know where your food is coming from!!)
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Squid (China, India, and Thailand)
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Swordfish (imported longline)
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Tuna:
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Albacore (except US troll, Pole and line, and longline)
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Bluefin
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Skipjack (imported purse seine)
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Yellowfin (Atlantic troll, pole and line)
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Or you can look at the SeaFood Watch app for easy access for what to avoid to result in a more sustainable world
Just ask: Asking is the best way you can know where you fish is coming from, and how they were caught. Asking a business “Do you sell sustainable seafood?” Shows business what is important to the consumer.
Sign Petitions to Save the world's smallest dolphin
Support Ecotourism (in New Zealand if possible)
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Go on boat tours and learn about these animals (if in New Zealand)
Reminding YOU Why You're About to Make a Change
As one of the most intelligent and smallest marine mammals in our ecosystems. Hector’s Dolphin has extreme ecological value. As a keystone species, they are extremely critical for their habitat. They regulate fish population by catching them while also catching the sickest fish in the sea. These animals are helping us without even knowing it.
They are creating a healthier ocean by eating ill fish. They have also produced a very loving and friendly community of eco-tourism which New Zealand has helped promote. These beautiful Dolphins are teaching the children the importance of keeping the ocean clean and regulated while also providing events to be able to help the ocean(beach clean-up days and protests).
So why save it? All animals deserve a clean and safe ecosystem where they are able to live freely. Specifically for Hector’s Dolphin, there is an extreme need to keep their habitat safe from human activity because of their young. If we want to make sure that these animals will live happily we need to start speaking up for them.
The benefits regarding Hector’s Dolphins are without belief. They have tremendously helped our their ecosystem and will continue to do so. But what can you do to help? There is so much that is needed to be done to make sure that these animals are safe. That's where you come in!
Even More Things YOU Can Do!
Write a letter or send an email to the Minister for Primary Industries and the Minister of Conservation asking them to strengthen protection measures by(Hector's and Maui's Dolphin SOS):
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Banning gillnets in waters up to 100m deep
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Strictly enforcing the current set net ban
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Extending the existing trawl ban out to 100m water depth
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Putting in place observers who report on trawlers throughout the dolphins’ range.
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Funding more research and monitoring because the more we know and appreciate the animals, the easier it will become to protect them.
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Support efforts to improve fishing gear by only buying seafood that is MSC certified. This can help to reduce the incidence of marine bycatch, which kills Hector's and Māu
If you live or vacation in New Zealand:
Report any set nets or trawlers operating within a protected area (Hector's and Maui's Dolphin SOS):
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Ministry of Fisheries: hotline: 0800 4 POACHER - 0800 476 224
Be boat smart around dolphins.
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Use a ‘no wake’ boat speed within 300 meters of them because they get frightened very easily.
Be Smart with your Trash
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Fishing gear and other rubbish are thrown overboard pose a serious risk to Hector’s Dolphins and other marine life. Make sure you take any rubbish back to shore and please retrieve any abandoned 'ghost' nets that you come across(Hector's and Maui's Dolphin SOS)
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
-Margaret Mead
Hector's Dolphin playing around in the ocean
Courtesy of Arkive
Seafood Watch List Home Screen
Courtesy of Brian DeWitt
Ocean Bubbles
Courtesy of Wix