Two dolphins have been found dead in New Zealand King Salmon nets in the Marlborough Sounds – both animals were found in predator nets which surround the salmon farms.
Company divers were undertaking routine checks of the nets when they found the dolphins at two separate salmon farms in Pelorus Sound, one carcass was identified as a Dusky dolphin. A marine mammal fatality incident report completed by King Salmon stated that the missing carcass likely came free and floated away when divers lowered the predator net, which had been lifted for a towing operation.
An investigation is now underway to identify what additional measures could be introduced to minimise the risk of entanglement, and needless deaths, in the future.
Photo Credit: NZ Dept of Conservation
