A single Hector's dolphin caught in a fishing net off in New Zealand waters has triggered actions designed to provide further protection from fishing activity.

"As a nationally vulnerable species, the loss of any Hector's dolphin is extremely disappointing," says Fisheries New Zealand fisheries management acting director Marianne Lukkien.

"This is the first capture of a Hector's dolphin in this area for the current fishing year, beginning  October 1. It sets in motion specific actions in the bycatch reduction plan for the South Island’s Hector's dolphins to reduce accidental captures of these precious taonga."

The incident involved a commercial set net vessel operating outside of the Hector's dolphin protection zone where methods such as set netting are prohibited.

"The fishing industry have been notified and we are urgently discussing with fishers and industry representatives what additional measures can be voluntarily implemented to avoid further captures."

"Following this, Fisheries New Zealand will brief ministers on whether further regulatory changes should be considered," says Marianne.

All commercial set net vessels in the region are fitted with an onboard camera.

The operator of the fishing vessel reported the capture, which took place on November 10, as being a different species of dolphin.

Fisheries New Zealand used footage from the onboard camera to confirm the species as a Hector's dolphin.

Under the South Island Hector's dolphin Bycatch Reduction Plan, there are fishing-related mortality limits - FRMLs -that set the maximum limit of fishing-related deaths in an area so that the relevant population outcomes and fisheries objectives are met.

FRMLs enable the Minister to respond quickly with additional regulatory measures to ensure the limit is not exceeded. The FRML for the Otago region is set at two Hector's dolphins per year, putting this incident at 50 per cent of the limit.

South Island Hector's dolphin bycatch reduction plan [PDF, 7.2 MB]

Protecting South Island Hector's dolphins [PDF, 1.4 MB]

Protecting Hector's and Māui dolphins