Department of Conservation (DOC) investigators are appealing for public information regarding two concerning incidents involving protected marine mammals in the Auckland region.
DOC National Compliance Team investigator, Eva Obushenkova says the first incident occurred between 11.20am and 12pm on 21 May, and involved a recreational boat skipper seen steering his vessel through a pod of bottlenose dolphins.
“One witness has seen the vessel launched at Waiake Beach on Auckland’s North Shore,” said Ms Obushenkova.
“They reported seeing the boat head straight toward the dolphins, which were clearly visible, and get very close to them.
“Our witness has also stated the boatie later changed direction and began following the pod, steering his vessel among the dolphins and eventually stopping the engine to take photographs.”
Under the Marine Mammals Protection Regulations, vessels are not permitted to travel through a pod of dolphins.
Ms Obushenkova says the boat involved in the incident is a Haynes Hunter named ‘Plaisir’.
“We’d like to talk to the owner or skipper of Plaisir, and encourage them to come forward,” she said.
Anyone who saw the incident, or can share information on the vessel, can contact DOC on 0800 DOC HOT and quote CLE Works case number 9189. Any information offered by members of the public is kept confidential by DOC.
In a separate incident at Muriwai in Auckland in early June, members of the public discovered two dead kekeno/NZ fur seals with their heads removed on the beach.
DOC science staff say the decapitations are the result of human actions, and not predation by another species.
Anyone with information on the decapitation of the dead seals at Muriwai – whether it’s eye-witness reports of incidents, or other potentially valuable evidence – is asked to contact 0800 DOC HOT and quote CLE Works case 9390.
Although DOC staff acknowledge the seals were discovered dead on the beach, they say there is still no justification for removing the animals’ heads. The Marine Mammals Protection Act clearly states it is illegal to take any part of a marine mammal.
“It’s not acceptable for people to tamper with protected wildlife, and it’s illegal to remove a protected species’ head,” said Ms Obushenkova.
