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Hector's Dolphin Protection |
Set Nets Kill Dolphins
- A set net is a type of set net. Nets not anchored to the seabed are called drift nets.
- Drift nets over 1 kilometre long were banned in New Zealand waters in 1989.
- Set nets strip coastal waters of marine life. They kill nearly every fish, bird and marine mammal that swims into them.
- These types of nets are among the most wasteful and indiscriminate fishing methods ever developed.
- Set nets are used widely in New Zealand waters by recreational and commercial fishers.
Between 1973 and 1993 approximately 50 yellow-eyed penguins, 730 shearwaters, 250 shags and 250 Hector's dolphins were reported drowned in set nets. And lots of drownings are never reported! It is compulsory for fishers to report any catches of marine mammals and seabirds.
| What does a
set net look like?
This is a sketch of a set net. It has red floats at the top. Set nets are weighted down at the bottom to anchor it to the seabed. |
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Regulations…
If you would like to know about the regulations for using set nets around New Zealand contact the Ministry of Fisheries (www.fish.govt.nz) or the Department of Conservation (www.doc.govt.nz).
Ghost fishing... When set nets are discarded or lost at sea they continue to ‘ghost fish’ for years because they are made of long-lasting synthetic plastic. Birds, fish and marine mammals get caught in the discarded nets and drown. Discarded nets can also cause problems for boats and divers.
What can you do?
Don't use set nets if you go fishing in the sea, use a fishing line instead.
And tell a friend to read this web page – then they will learn how to care for the Hector’s dolphin
too!
