Marine mammals

Marine mammal sighting form

Contact:

marinemammals@doc.govt.nz

Your sighting will help us learn things like population sizes, breeding rates and movement patterns, information which helps us look after marine mammals.

Call DOC HOTline immediately

If you see:

  • a southern right whale
  • a Maui's dolphin
  • an entangled or stranded marine mammal

please call the DOC HOTline (0800 362 468) immediately.

Other sightings

Use the online form below to report other marine mammal sightings.

You must fill in fields marked with *

Photos

If you have photos of your marine mammal sighting load them into our Flickr group: http://www.flickr.com/groups/marinemammalsightings/. This group is monitored seven days a week and we'd really value your contribution.

Otherwise you can email them to us separately at: marinemammals@doc.govt.nz. Don't forget to include your name so we can match photos to the correct form submission.

Name*
Address
Company
Phone Number*
Email
Date of sighting
Time of sighting
Distance from shore
Location (include lat/long, grid ref if known, describe landmarks)
Species name (see species identification info on this website)
Identification confidence
Description (e.g., colours, dorsal fin, head)
Length (adult):
Length (calf):
Direction of travel:
Shape of blow (whales): tall, bushy, V-shaped, angle
Behaviour (e.g., breaching, travelling, resting, diving etc)
Total seen:
No. adults:
No. calves:
Photos taken:
Sea state:
Swell:
Other comments:

Find out more

Publications

Sharing our coasts with marine mammals

This brochure summarises the simple rules you need to follow around whales, dolphins or seals.

Marine mammals of NZ posterMarine Mammal Action Plan 2005-2010 (PDF, 336K)

Learn more

Marine and coastal conservation

Marine mammal sanctuaries

Contacts

To report whale or dolphin sightings or strandings phone the DOC HOTline 24 hour emergency number:

0800 DOC HOTline (0800 362 468)

Conservation for prosperity. Tiakina te taiao, kia puawai