March 26, 2024
SailGP pinged for low tech dolphin control
Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has stepped into the controversy surrounding Sail GP racing on Lyttleton Harbour Te Whakaraupō.
Saturday’s racing was cancelled when a Hector’s dolphin would not leave the race area, and all the races for the high speed foiling yachts were sailed on Sunday.
While the small dolphins are officially classified as nationally vulnerable, Mr Jones says they are not endangered and there are thousands around the South Island.
He says in normal circumstances it’s a busy harbour.
“I’m surprised they haven’t used the dolphin crown control mechanism the fishing industry used – they attach wee devices to their nets and ping an electronic signal and by and large it keeps the dolphins away, so that may have been a measure that might have been useful,” Mr Jones says.
He says a modern economy requires trade offs between economic activity and conservation.