Drone will help protect Maui dolphin

Drone technology using artificial intelligence (AI) to find and track endangered Maui dolphins on Auckland’s west coast is backed by the Government.

The drone project is working with MAUI63, a non-profit organisation developing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of finding and tracking Maui dolphins.

“The project is just one part of the Government’s plan to save the Maui dolphin. We are committed to protecting this treasure,” oceans and fisheries minister David Parker says.

He says the drone could provide unparalleled access to information about Maui dolphins, at a fraction of the cost of other data collection methods.

 “This technology has the potential to compile detailed data on the habitats, population size and distribution and behaviour of the dolphins, along with many other types of marine species such as other dolphins, seabirds, and whales,” Parker says.

“By advancing our understanding of how Maui dolphins behave during the day and throughout the year this project will help us ensure the measures our Government has already put in place to protect our Maui dolphins are robust and appropriate.

“Current estimates suggest that only 63 Maui dolphins aged over one year remain, so it’s critical that we work together to help save them from extinction.”

The Maui Drone Project is a one-year collaboration between the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), which is contributing $545,762 through its Sustainable Food & Fibre Futures (SFF Futures) fund, non-profit wildlife technology organisation MAUI63 and WWF-New Zealand.

Fisheries New Zealand has committed 800 hours of technical expertise to help the project to analyse data, and develop models to track and predict the dolphins’ movements.

Data from the project will be publicly available, while fishing companies Moana New Zealand and Sanford – which are also supporting the project – are exploring how to use the information from the drone technology to reduce the risk to Maui and Hector’s dolphins.

 Initial drone testing shows the AI technology can distinguish Maui and Hector’s dolphins (which look identical) from other species with more than 90% accuracy.

Flying high overhead with a 50x optical zoom camera, the UAV can find, follow, and film for up to six hours, its more than 120m flight altitude ensuring the dolphins are undisturbed.