Recommendations from the International Whaling Commission's (IWC) scientific committee released yesterday call for full closure of any fisheries within the range of Maui's dolphins where bycatch is a risk.
''Rather than seeking further scientific evidence, the highest priority should be given to immediate management actions that will lead to the elimination of bycatch of Maui's dolphins.''
Only 55 of the dolphins remain in the North Island and scientists have predicted Maui's will decline to just 10 adult breeding females in six years and become functionally extinct in less than 20 years.
Prof Slooten, a leading dolphin scientist, said the international attention, given it was the second time the committee had made similar recommendations, was becoming embarrassing for the Government, which sent four representatives to the committee meeting.
The committee's recommendations were much clearer this year, stipulating the Government should not use research as an excuse and that whatever fishing method threatened the dolphins should be removed, she said.
The best possible outcome of the IWC committee report would be for the Ministers of Conservation and Primary Industries to follow its advice and extend the protection for Maui's dolphins, Prof Slooten said.
Realistically, she hoped there could be a chance of compromise to make the present ''messy patchwork'' of ''illogical and ineffective'' protection measures clearer.
Conservation Minister Nick Smith said in response to questions from Green MP Gareth Hughes in Parliament yesterday the Government would consider the recommendations as part of its work on the dolphins' overdue threat management plan, which would come out next month.
Dr Smith criticised the report as not yet being adopted by the IWC itself and said the key issue was the lack of information about the habitat of the dolphins.
The Government was ''not in the business'' of banning trawling or set-netting where there was no risk to dolphins, he said.
While it was determined to take ''all practical'' steps to ensure the survival of the species, trawling and set-net fishing were already banned across thousands of square kilometres to protect ''55 dolphins''.
Mr Hughes said the Government needed to implement the recommendations urgently.
''The Government is recklessly risking the extinction of the Maui's dolphin.''
The Government should listen to the scientific consensus that gill net and trawl fisheries need to be closed in all areas where Maui's dolphins live.
WWF New Zealand executive director Chris Howe said it was unacceptable Maui's were still at risk of dying ''while we wait for adequate protection''.
''The Government needs to step up now to do everything in its power to save Maui's dolphins.''
Permanent measures that removed fishing gear whichkilled dolphins needed to be put in place and fishermen needed to be helped to adopt dolphin-friendly methods.
