5531 (2025). Tangi Utikere to the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries

5531 (2025). Tangi Utikere to the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries: What evidence, if any, does the Minister have to support his claim that "The most recent science we've heard about in the media is that when a cat does number twos, it affects the population of the Maui's dolphins", and how does he address the body of scientific research that links human activities—such as fishing practices—to the decline of Maui's dolphin populations?

Hon Shane Jones: The Hector’s and Māui Dolphin Threat Management Plan recognises that dolphins face a range of human-induced threats. Toxoplasmosis is identified as the largest non-fishing related threat. There are extensive measures in place to manage fishing impacts on dolphins.