DOC has introduced restrictions on trips to view and swim with Hector's dolphins. Photo: Maria Jesus Valdes/Supplied
The Hector's dolphin is one of the world's smallest dolphins, but for tourism operators in Akaroa, trips to view and swim with the species are big business.
Research has shown vessel activity can disturb the dolphins' behaviour, and the Department of Conservation has now put limits on the number of trips allowed per day for tourism operators in Akaroa harbour.
Black Cat Cruises chief executive Paul Milligan runs trips to view Hector's dolphins, and told Morning Report the new restrictions will impact his business.
"It's going to limit the ability for us to grow from here.
"We've had a reduction of around 50 percent of our swimming with dolphins' trips moving forward."
The new limits allow up to 20 trips per day across all operators over the busiest summer months and no more than 12 trips per day for six months of the year, and DOC operations manager Andy Thompson said these limits do not significantly affect operators' recent activity levels.
"This provides room for operators to increase activity to levels just below pre-Covid peaks. For example, in 2019/2020 there were only 10-15 days during peak season where operators collectively exceeded the new 20-trip limit."
Even though the restrictions affect Milligan, he agrees the Hector's dolphin needs protecting.
"We understand DOC's desire to reduce the impact on Hector's dolphins. The dolphins are very special creatures, they're as special to New Zealand as the Kiwi."
The research that informed the decision was carried out over the past few years using an underwater acoustic device to monitor dolphin activity alongside vessel movements at a dolphin hotspot and popular viewing area in the Akaroa harbour.
With the Akaroa harbour a popular destination for boating, Milligan said it isn't the tourist boats that are the problem.
"Vessels come in different shapes and sizes and forms, and the permitted operators that are operating out on the harbour are generally the ones who are following the rules, they've got qualified skippers and understand the marine mammal regulations.
"There are other forms of vehicle traffic which are having far greater impacts on these dolphins."
Milligan said the fishing industry is "known to catch these dolphins", and on a summer's day there are "a couple of hundred" recreational vessels in the Akaroa harbour, with unlicensed skippers and no way to "educate or control" their behaviour.
Milligan said without being able to control where vessels go on the harbour, it would be hard to get rid of any impact on the dolphins.
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