An evaluation of a management saga: The Banks Peninsula Marine Mammal Sanctuary, New Zealand

The Banks Peninsula Marine Mammal Sanctuary, Canterbury, New Zealand, was e stablished in 1988 to protect the Hector's dolphin Cephalorhynchus hectori from accidental entanglement in set nets (gill nets). Sanctuary establishme nt was strongly supported by environmental groups but has continued to be s trongly opposed by both commercial and recreational fishers. This paper eva luates the issues surrounding sanctuary establishment, the process of sanct uary implementation, management and review, conservation costs and benefits and identify a possible improved approach to resolving some of the,se iden tified issues. It is argued that first, a more consultative, community base d and negotiated approach should have been implemented in first dealing wit h the dolphin accidental catch issue,. second, ongoing management by the De partment of Conservation should have been adaptive rather than dogmatic, an d given more respect to local views; and third, that in reviewing the Sanct uary the Department of Conservation and the Minister of Conservation should have promoted a facilitated and negotiated settlement reflecting a precaut ionary approach and adaptive management. (C) 2000 Academic Press.