6. Question No. 6—Oceans and FisheriesHon EUGENIE SAGE (Green) to the Minister for Oceans and FisheriesQuestion No. 6—Oceans and Fisheries6. Hon EUGENIE SAGE (Green) to the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries: What advice if any did Fisheries New Zealand provide him on potential risks to Māui dolphin from increasing the total allowable commercial catch for snapper off the West Coast of the North Island?Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN (Minister of Conservation) on behalf of the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries: I received advice from Fisheries New Zealand that extensive trawl and set netting prohibitions are in place to manage the risks of commercial and recreational fishing to Māui dolphins along the West Coast of the North Island. The measures are part of a suite of actions under a wider threat management plan which include creating and extending set net bans and extending trawl closure areas. Together these provide a high degree of certainty that the current risk fishing has to Māui dolphin mortality is close to zero. If I receive evidence to the contrary I can impose further restrictions. I also note that the rules include a provision allowing me to act immediately to impose further restrictions if a single dolphin is caught in the Māui dolphin habitat within the West Coast of the North Island.Hon Eugenie Sage: Does he stand by his statement to former Prime Minister Helen Clark that I don't want to be part of a Government that oversees the extinction of a species." if so why has he taken a decision that Fisheries New Zealand considers may increase the risk to Māui dolphin?Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN: On behalf of the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries I reiterate that the measures provide a high degree of certainty that the current risk fishing has to Māui dolphin mortality is close to zero. In addition if I do receive evidence to the contrary within the parameters I can impose further restrictions.Hon Eugenie Sage: What advice if any has he sought from his ministerial colleague the Minister of Conservation about the latest Department of Conservation survey which reportedly shows there may be just 54 Māui dolphins remaining and will he consider further measures to protect critically endangered Māui dolphins from being caught and dying in fishing nets?Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN: On behalf of the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries I can confirm that I am in regular contact with the formidable Minister for Conservation and we engage closely in discussions about a range of issues. I'm aware that the new Māui dolphin estimate is 54 but as said before I am confident that the advice that I have received is that there is a high degree of certainty that there is currently a close to zero risk that fishing has to the Māui dolphin mortality rates and if I do receive evidence to the contrary I can impose further restrictions.Hon Eugenie Sage: Did the Minister receive any advice on whether the increase in allowable snapper catch and potential risk to Māui dolphins will affect New Zealand's seafood exports to the United States in the light of Sea Shepherd's court action in the US Court of International Trade?Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN: On behalf of the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries I don't have any information to hand that can assist with that answer but I'm happy to seek further information if she so requires.SPEAKER: I just want to check on that one whether the Minister answering the question is saying that or is she saying that Mr Parker is saying that?Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN: On behalf of Minister Parker I don't have any information to hand.SPEAKER: OK. I think I'll interpret that as the Minister answering on behalf saying she does not have that information but if the member wants to put it down.Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN: Happy to assist.SPEAKER: Thank you.Hon Eugenie Sage: How does the Minister respond to the call of the International Union for Conservation of Nature to "urgently extend dolphin protection for Māui and Hector's dolphin."?Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN: On behalf of the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries I'll reiterate that to date we don't have any information that has been provided that the dolphin mortality will increase. It is close to zero. I have the ability to make amendments and impose further restrictions if there is any evidence to the contrary that this is indeed required."