DOC investigators are asking people to come forward with any information they have on two concerning incidents involving protected marine mammals in the Auckland region.
Eva Obushenkova, an Investigator with DOC's National Compliance Team, says the first incident occurred between 11:20 am and 12 pm on May 21, and involves 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," Eva says.
"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 cannot travel through a pod of dolphins.
Eva 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 says.
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. The discovery was reported to DOC.
DOC science staff who've seen the images 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, 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," Eva says.
DOC protects and nurtures more than a third of New Zealand's landscape, marine areas, and thousands of endangered species – a role guided by several key laws like the Conservation Act, Wildlife Act, and National Parks Act. These legal frameworks ensure our unique biodiversity is properly safeguarded.
When people or organisations don't follow the rules, it further threatens our special places and native wildlife. DOC takes these responsibilities very seriously and has a range of enforcement tools to hold rule-breakers to account.
However, DOC can't be everywhere, so public eyes and ears make a real difference. DOC staff continually urge the public to help protect nature by reporting unlawful activity through 0800 DOC HOT.
