New Zealand moves to protect rare dolphins WELLINGTON (Reuters)
- New Zealand plans to ban commercial fishing near its coast and
set up marine reserves to protect the rare Hector's dolphins, a
government minister said on Thursday The Hector's dolphin is
estimated to number around 7,400 from 29,000 in the late 1970s.
However, one of its sub-species, the Maui dolphin, is said to be
the rarest in the world and facing extinction with as few as 111
animals left. Fishing is blamed for up to three-quarters of the
known deaths of Hector's dolphins. "The measures strike the best
achievable balance between the protection of these iconic
dolphins and the activities of our commercial and recreational
fishers," said Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton. He said the
measures were estimated to cost the commercial fishing industry
up to 295 jobs and NZ$79.1 million over the next 10 years. The
dolphins grow to around 1.4 meters (40 inches) compared with up
to 4 meters for the common Bottlenose dolphin, live around 20
years, and br