Pursuant to Regulation 15 of the Marine Mammals Protection Regulations 1992, I, Michael Slater, Deputy Director-General, Operations, Department of Conservation, declare that for a period of 12 months from the date of this notice:

1. no new permits shall be granted for commercial operations to view whales, dolphins or seals, or to swim with dolphins or seals, in those waters between Cape Soucis (173°35′E, 41°3′S) and Cape Campbell (174°16′E, 41°43′S) of the Marlborough Sounds, and extending out seaward to four nautical miles.

For clarity, clause a. of this declaration does not apply to:

1. any application to renew, amend, or transfer (in whole or part) an existing commercial permit for the location specified above, if there is no material increase in the amount of contact of any type with marine mammals; or
2. any application for the purpose of filming marine mammals where there will be no paying passengers.

Dated at Wellington this 29th day of June 2017.

MICHAEL SLATER, Deputy Director-General, Operations, Department of Conservation (pursuant to an instrument of delegation dated 9 September 2015).