Pressure is mounting on the Government to step in after more than 140 marine mammals were killed inside New Zealand’s protected sanctuaries over just two years.
Environmental groups say the deaths highlight serious gaps in protection, with 146 marine mammals reported killed within sanctuary boundaries that are supposed to safeguard vulnerable species.
The toll includes dolphins, seals and other species, many of them already under threat. Advocates argue the scale of deaths undermines the very purpose of marine mammal sanctuaries, which were established to provide safe havens for wildlife.
Data from the most recent fishing year alone shows dozens of marine mammals were killed inside sanctuary zones, with fishing activity identified as a major contributor.
Campaigners say current laws allow harmful activities such as set netting and trawling to continue within some sanctuary areas unless specific restrictions are put in place. That has led to calls for stronger rules, including wider fishing bans and tighter enforcement.
There are also concerns about long-term impacts on species like Hector’s and Māui dolphins, which have slow reproduction rates and are highly vulnerable to population decline.
Marine mammal sanctuaries exist under the Marine Mammals Protection Act, but critics say without tougher protections, they risk becoming ineffective in preventing deaths.
Advocates are now urging the Conservation Minister to intervene, warning that without urgent action, continued losses could push some species closer to extinction.
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