The New Zealand government unveiled on Monday its plan to expand and strengthen the protection for Maui and Hector's dolphins with an updated plan to deal with threats to the endangered native marine mammals.

Proposals for consultation for a revised Threat Management Plan to protect dolphins were released on Monday. Extending the boundaries of the West Coast North Island Marine Mammal Sanctuary south to Wellington and extending the Banks Peninsula Marine Mammal Sanctuary north to Kaikoura, south to Timaru, and offshore to 20 nautical miles are included in the proposals.

Dolphins jump out of the water. /VCG Photo

The proposals also include the Department of Conservation developing an action plan to deal with toxoplasmosis, a disease that can affect dolphins and other marine mammals, by targeting research to answer knowledge gaps, enhancing education for cat owners and advocating for riparian and wetland restoration.

These precious dolphins are New Zealand taonga (treasure). We need to act now to ensure their populations increase and both species thrive, said Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage.

It is estimated that only 63 Maui dolphins remain, and Hector's dolphins are nationally vulnerable with about 15,000 in New Zealand waters.

(Cover image: Two wild dolphins in the New Zealand waters. /Xinhua Photo)

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)