Research undertaken around the Doubtful Sound area, New Zealand over the past eight years has identified that the resident population of bottlenose dolphins is in such steep decline that it could face extinction by 2050. There are only 56 animals left. In response to the identification of these threats the New Zealand Department of Conservation (DoC) has now put out a threat management discussion paper for public discussion which highlights the different options it is considering to mitigate the identified threats.

The DoC is considering 3 categories of management options (and combinations of those):

1. The creation of no-boat zones and different use zones
2. Reducing boat traffic
3. Improving behaviour around dolphins

Deadline for comments is September 5, 2007. Please register your views to by emailing your comments on the discussion paper, and selecting the options you find most appropriate to Carrie Williams