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various boat presences. To date this formation is absent from Lyttelton Harbour and Timaru.

d Slooten, 1999). Any non-conformation to regulations is a ajor concern and suggests that more stringent regulations or monitoring of

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It is important to monitor the effects of both tour boat presence and other boat presence so that an overall and combined effect on Hector’s dolphin behaviour can be determined. Monitoring of individual dolphins and overall group dynamics is therefore required. The information derived from such research will provide details about Hector’s dolphin behaviour in response to

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Any analysis or interpretation of data obtained from research of this type would give an indication of whether there are problems, in regard to the frequency or presence of dolphin based tour-operations, that need to be addressed. In turn this would ultimately allow decisions to be made about whether there is a need to introduce further control measures or tighten existing regulations governing commercially organised dolphin tours and private excursions.

The non-conformity of some operators and/or their passengers to the regulations governing dolphin experience activities place additional pressures on Hector’s dolphin populations. A review of the regulations governing dolphin and human interaction and their enforcement is also necessary. There were 70 instances over a year recorded at Kaikoura where boats did not conform to the conditions and regulations governing dusky dolphin tour activities as outlined in the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), 1992 (Barr an

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conformity to the regulations governing dolphin tour activities is needed. This should be a major priority not only for the dusky dolphin population at Kaikoura but also for Hector’s dolphins at Akaroa. Hector’s dolphins have been declared a threatened species (DoC, 1999a), and, therefore, require protection to maintain their population

operators conform to regulations and guidelines governing dolphin experience tours wherever the operation.

There is a major concern over the wellbeing of Hector’s dolphins. Some of these concerns are related to the conduct of commercial tour operators providing dolphin xperience tours, and the conduct of private boat operators. As a result, both Timaru

es vary between 1000-4000 individuals oller, 1992; Dawson and Slooten, 1993). There have been no estimates made of the

cts as shown in bottlenose

tired from DoC at Akaroa), in that dolphins appear to be attracted to tour boats and spend an increasing amount of time interacting with them. Any change in e

and Lyttelton Harbours are becoming subjected to increasing pressure from commercially organised eco-tours and, additionally, private excursions. Excursions to see dolphins at Lyttelton Harbour have also increased. The fear is that activity of this nature and increasing pressure may alter the behaviour of Hector’s dolphins within a habitat that was initially regulated to protect them. A marine mammal sanctuary was established around Banks Peninsula in December 1988 to protect Hector’s dolphins against mortality due to net entanglements (Voller, 1992; Dawson and Slooten, 1993). However, the complete effects of tourism are not yet known.

To date there are no accurate figures depicting the number of Hector’s dolphins present in Akaroa Harbour, although estimat

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individual populations at either Lyttelton or Timaru. Until reliable data are obtained, the existing population of Hector’s dolphin must be protected against human interaction situations which have the potential to induce stress or alter behaviour in such a way that it is detrimental to their biology and population dynamics. This is particularly important because Hector’s dolphins have a low reproductive output and short life span (DoC, 1988; Slooten, 1991), hence any decline in biological fitness due to stress from eco-tour operators may have long-lasting effe

dolphins in Shark Bay (Bejder et al., 2006b).

A change has already been observed in Hector’s dolphin behaviour at Akaroa (Stone, 1992; Stone et al., 2005), which is supported by local resident observations (pers.

comm., Bob Meikle, September 1999. Resident of Timaru), and DOC employees working in close proximity to the dolphins (pers. comm., Alistair Hutt, September 1999, re

The word eco-tour suggests an activity which does not disrupt the natural life present allowing nimals to thrive in a relatively undisturbed, naturally changing habitat. However,

mercial fisheries and other human activity. The sanctuary llows the coastline from the Rakaia mouth to Sumner Head and spans four nautical miles out to sea. It covers an area of 1140 km2 (Gabites Porter Consultants, 1995). It protects. However, on-board oat-based observations at both sites and field notes (Travis, 2000; 2001) referencing

o protect both the dolphins and the industries which are based around them, it is ecessary to monitor dolphin wellbeing, by finding ways to measure stresses,

d any behavioural changes that may occur over time hich are related to human interaction as well as population numbers. A combination environment, or alter the behaviour or dynamics of the wild

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there has been little research to determine if this is in fact the case in Lyttelton or Timaru Harbours. The eco-tour activities offered at Akaroa and Lyttelton Harbours not only subject dolphins to disturbance from boats, but also from swimmers and divers.