There are a number of actual and potential threats facing the Maui's dolphin including those from fishing, boat strikes and pollution. Some of these threats may cause the death of the dolphins directly, whereas others may impact on the population by reducing the health of individuals and therefore their ability to breed.
Further details on the threats facing Maui's dolphins can be found in the Hector's and Maui's dolphins Threat Management Plan, as can information on how DOC and the Ministry of Fisheries is seeking to mitigate against them.