Summary
Acoustic pingers were tested for their effectiveness to reduce entanglement of Hector's dolphins in New Zealand gillnets. A remote control device was used to raise either active or passive acoustic pingers near Hector's dolphins. The dolphins' movement and distribution was observed from shore.Dolphins avoided the immediate area when pingers were active, but did not leave the larger harbor area. Dolphin sightings made during active pinger trials were distributed significantly farther from the source than during passive trials.