WildEarth Guardians

Friday, February 21, 2014
Hector's Dolphin, Other Marine Mammals Need Protection to Avoid Extinction

Feds will consider one species and three subpopulations for Endangered Species Act listing
Contact: Taylor Jones (505) 490-5141

Washington, DC – In the latest response to a petition submitted by WildEarth Guardians to list 81 marine species and subpopulations under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the National Marine Fisheries Service (Service) announced today it will consider protections for one species and three subpopulations of marine mammals. The agency will review the status of the Hector’s dolphin, the Baltic Sea subpopulation of harbor porpoise, the eastern Taiwan Strait subpopulation of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, and the Fiordland subpopulation of the bottlenose dolphin over the next twelve months to determine whether to list them under the ESA.

“Dolphins and porpoises are beloved animals, but they are disappearing from many parts of our world,” said Taylor Jones, Endangered Species Advocate for WildEarth Guardians. “We need to ensure imperiled marine mammals receive every possible protection. We call on the Service to quickly finalize protections for these species to give them a fighting chance to survive.”

Hector’s dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori) is endemic to New Zealand, with the second most limited range of any cetacean. These rare dolphins are found in shallow coastal waters, almost always within eight miles of shore and at depths of fewer than 300 feet. Accidental entanglement in fishing nets and gear is the most serious threat to the dolphins. Boat strikes, disease and pollution may also contribute to the extinction risk of this small population, which numbers about 7,400.

The Baltic Sea subpopulation of harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) differs genetically from other harbor porpoise populations and likely numbers fewer than 250 animals. The main threat to these dolphins is pollution, in particular polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). These persistent, toxic chemicals were once widely used in commercial and industrial products and can accumulate in the tissues of animals at the top of the food chain, including dolphins and other marine mammals. Like most imperiled marine species, bycatch is also a threat to the harbor porpoise.

The eastern Taiwan Strait subpopulation of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis) does not appear to leave the western side of Taiwan or mix with other humpback dolphin populations. Pollution, particularly from PCBs, and weak regulatory protections threaten this population, which likely numbers fewer than 80 animals.

The Fiordland subpopulation of bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) occurs off the coast of New Zealand, the extreme southern end of the bottlenose dolphin’s range. The population is only approximately 200 animals, and appears to be declining. The exact cause is uncertain, but threats include freshwater discharge from a hydroelectric power plant, boating activity, and reduced prey availability.

An estimated 50-80 percent of all life on earth is found in the oceans. More than half of marine species may be at risk of extinction by 2100 without significant conservation efforts. Despite this grave situation, the U.S. has largely failed to protect marine species under the ESA. Of the over 2,000 species protected by the Act, fewer than five percent are marine species. Recognizing the decline of ocean health, on July 22, 2010 President Obama issued an Executive Order requiring agencies, including the National Marine Fisheries Service, to “protect, maintain, and restore the health and biological diversity of ocean... ecosystems,” and to “use the best available science and knowledge to inform decisions affecting the ocean.”

Guardians’ multi-species marine petition seeks to compel the Service to live up to this mandate. Listing under the ESA has proven to be an effective safety net for imperiled species: more than 99 percent of plants and animals listed under the Act persist today. The Act is especially important as a bulwark against the current extinction crisis: plants and animals are disappearing at a rate much higher than the natural rate of extinction due to human activities. Scientists estimate that 227 species would have gone extinct if not for ESA listing. Listing species facing global threats can both protect the species domestically, and help focus U.S. resources toward enforcement of international regulations and recovery of the species.