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Warning after jet skiers chase dolphins: 'It's incredibly dangerous'

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Mon, 14 Jan 2019, 10:47AM
Jet skiers get close to dolphins in Wellington. Photo / Mark Gee

Warning after jet skiers chase dolphins: 'It's incredibly dangerous'

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Mon, 14 Jan 2019, 10:47AM

Two Wellington jet-skiers have sparked outrage after they ploughed through a pod of dolphins in Oriental Bay.

Between 30 or 40 dolphins were swimming around stand up paddleboarders before two "yahooing" young men on jet skis drove too close to them and split them up.

Massey University marine expert, associate professor Karen Stockin told Tim Dower it's sad but she's not surprised because she has undertaken post-mortems on dolphins who've died after being hit by jetskis.

She said the boating public is generally good around marine mammals but jetskiers are not so good.

"I am pleased to say that the New Zealand public generally are relatively well versed when it comes to boats manoeuvring around these marine animals but jet skis seem to cause a lot of issues."

"They are a lot faster, they are a lot more agile, they tend to change directions and speeds a lot faster and so often people get on them and all caution goes to the wind and they don't think carefully about what they are doing on them which is definitely a problem for marine animals."

She said it is really dangerous to get close to large marine life and people can lose their lives.

"Even when you have specialised people, who have been highly trained in those kinds of manoeuvres, it's still incredibly dangerous to be close to those animals and we do have examples in New Zealand of people being killed."

Local resident Mark Gee said the dolphins often chased the fish around to Evans Bay.

Jetskiers and water-skiers were close to dolphins/whales in Wellington harbour. Photo / Mark Gee
Jetskiers and water-skiers were close to dolphins/whales in Wellington harbour. Photo / Mark Gee

The award-winning photographer, who works as a visual effects supervisor, could not resist the chance to take a couple of snaps of the dolphins.

There were a hundred or so people gathered on the shoreline to see the pod, he said.

However, the pod of dolphins was disrupted by a pair of young men on a jet ski who he said "ploughed" through the group.

"I was quite shocked to see them do that," Gee said.

They kept going round and round chasing the pod, he said, adding he could hear them "yahooing" as they carried on.

"They definitely split the pod up."

Gee said it was disappointing to see, considering most people knew better and were pretty good around dolphins.

He praised a nearby boatie who he believed "flagged them down and gave them a talking to" - prompting the duo to take off.

Wellington City Council spokeswoman Victoria Barton-Chapple said while it was great to see "wildlife flourishing in the reserves and sea", it was also important to remind the public that dolphins were wild and needed to be treated as such.

"We recommend any incidents, where wildlife needs a helping hand, to be reported to the Department of Conservation through the 0800 DOC HOT line, so their trained experts can come to the rescue."

The dolphins spotted in Wellington on January 12. Photo / Mark Gee
The dolphins spotted in Wellington on January 12. Photo / Mark Gee
The boat owner speaks to the jetskiers. Photo / Mark Gee
The boat owner speaks to the jetskiers. Photo / Mark Gee

The Herald has sought comment from DoC.

Similar concerns emerged last year after the public was captivated by a whale which took up residence in Wellington Harbour for several days. It sparked warnings from DoC and the council about keeping a safe distance from the animal.

People are required to keep at least 50 metres from marine mammals.

Marine mammal laws

• The Marine Mammals Protection Regulations 1992 list the conditions governing behaviour around marine mammals.

• Commercial tourist operators require permits and are subject to further rules.

• All seals, sea lions, dolphins and whales are protected under the Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978. It's an offence to harass, disturb, injure or kill marine mammals.

• Anyone charged with harassing, disturbing, injuring or killing a marine mammal faces a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment or a fine up to $250,000.

Source: Department of Conservation

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