An expert who's studied dolphins for 35 years is critical of the Government's new plan to save endangered Maui and Hector's dolphins.

Otago University dolphin researcher Elisabeth Slooten believes tighter trawling and set net fishing restrictions announced yesterday won't help them.

Professor Slooten told Mike Hosking the Government is trying to save fishing jobs and the dolphins.

"I think they are trying to balance money and jobs, which is a lose-lose game for the dolphins."

She warns small populations will be lost on the east coast of North Island and the Otago coastline.

Slooten says the focus on saving large populations to reduce the total number being killed is too narrow.

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