1 August 2023 - 31 July 2024
This is a summary of reported Hector's and Māui dolphin incidents during the period 1 August 2023 - 31 July 2024.

This year is now closed. 

Summary of the year's incidents:

  • There were 21 Hector's dolphin deaths and one Māui dolphin death reported to DOC during this time period.
  • Bycatch was responsible for 15 of these deaths (all Hector's dolphins from the east coast of the South Island).
  • The remaining dolphins were primarily found beachcast, and one was found floating at sea. 
  • Necropsies were conducted on 16 dolphins.
  • 12 of the dolphins were male, 3 were female, and 7 were unknown. 
  • 14 were adults, 3 were calves, 3 were juveniles or subadults, 2 were unknown.
ID Date observed Sex Age class Location Popn1  Obs type Necropsy status Possible cause of death Pathology report

H319

6517

Sep 2023 Male Adult Timaru ECSI Entanglement - trawl Complete

Known bycatch in a commercial trawl

H319 (PDF, 30K)

H320

6518

22 Oct 2023 Male Adult Rakaia, Chch ECSI Beachcast Complete

Natural causes - disease

H320 final (PDF, 27K)

6524

Nov 2023 Unknown Adult Otago ECSI Entanglement - set net None

Known bycatch in a commercial set net

NA
6523 Nov 2023 Male Adult Kaikoura ECSI Entanglement - set net None

Known bycatch in a commercial set net

NA

H321

6525

Dec 2023 Male Adult Banks Peninsula ECSI Entanglement - trawl Complete

Known bycatch in a commercial trawl

H321 (PDF, 25K)

H322

6526

Dec 2023 Female Adult Pegasus Bay ECSI Entanglement - trawl Complete

Known bycatch in a commercial trawl

H322 (PDF, 25K)

H323

6527

20 Dec 2023 Unknown Neonate Karioitahi, Auckland WCNI Beachcast Pending

 

 

H324

6528

Jan 2024 Male Adult Timaru ECSI Entanglement - trawl Complete

Known bycatch in a commercial trawl

H324 (PDF, 25K)

H325

6529

17 Jan 2024 Male Juvenile Lyttleton Harbour ECSI Floating at sea Incomplete - too decomposed

NA

NA
6530 18 Dec 2023 Unknown Adult Fortrose SCSI Beachcast NA - decomposed

Unknown

 

H326

6531

Jan 2024 Male Adult Timaru ECSI Entanglement - trawl Complete

Known bycatch in a commercial trawl

H326 (PDF, 25K)

H327

6532

09 Feb 2024 Male Adult Quail Island, Christchurch ECSI Beachcast Complete

Natural causes - non-infectious disease

H327 (PDF, 27K)

H328

6533

09 Feb 2024 Male Subadult Greymouth WCSI Beachcast Complete

Blunt force trauma - unknown cause

H328 (PDF, 24K)

H329

6534

Feb 2024 Male Adult Pegasus Bay ECSI Entanglement - trawl Complete

Known bycatch in a commercial trawl

H329 (PDF, 26K)

H330

6535

Feb 2024 Female Adult Pegasus Bay ECSI Entanglement - trawl Complete

Known bycatch in a commercial trawl

H330 (PDF, 25K)

H331

6535

Feb 2024 Female Calf Pegasus Bay ECSI Entanglement - trawl Complete

Known bycatch in a commercial trawl

H331 (PDF, 27K)
6541 27 Feb 2024 Unknown Calf Christchurch ECSI Beachcast NA decomposed

Unknown

NA

H332

6536

Feb 2024 Male Adult Timaru ECSI Entanglement - trawl Complete

Known bycatch in a commercial trawl

H332 (PDF, 21K)

H333

6537

Apr 2024 Male Subadult Timaru ECSI Entanglement - set net Complete

Known bycatch in a commercial set net

H333 (PDF, 24K)

H334

6538

Apr 2024 Male Adult Timaru ECSI Entanglement - trawl Complete

Known bycatch in a commercial trawl

H334 (PDF, 27K)
6539 May 2024 Unk Unk Cloudy Bay ECSI Entanglement - trawl None

Known bycatch in a commercial trawl

NA
6540 May 2024 Unk Unk Rakaia ECSI Entanglement - trawl None

Known bycatch in a commercial trawl

NA