Editing Cook Strait (section)

==Marine life==
Cook Strait is an important habitat for many [[cetacean]] species. Several dolphins ([[bottlenose dolphin|bottlenose]], [[common dolphin|common]], [[dusky dolphin|dusky]]) frequent the area along with [[killer whale]]s and the endemic [[Hector's dolphin]]s. [[Long-finned pilot whale]]s often strand en masse at [[Golden Bay / Mohua|Golden Bay]]. The famous [[Pelorus Jack]] was a [[Risso's dolphin]] being observed escorting the ships between 1888 and 1912, though this species is not a common visitor to the New Zealand's waters. Large migratory whales attracted many [[whaler]]s to the area in the winter. Currently, an annual survey of counting [[humpback whale]]s is taken by [[Department of Conservation (New Zealand)|Department of Conservation]] and former whalers help DOC to spot animals by using several vantage points along the strait such as on [[Stephens Island, New Zealand|Stephens Island]]. Other occasional visitors include [[southern right whale]]s, [[blue whale]]s, [[sei whale]]s and [[sperm whale]]s. [[List of giant squid specimens and sightings|Giant squid specimens]] have been washed ashore around Cook Strait or found in the stomachs of sperm whales off [[Kaikōura]].

A colony of male [[Arctocephalus forsteri|fur seal]]s has long been established near [[Pariwhero / Red Rocks]] on the south Wellington coast.<ref>[http://diaspora.gen.nz/~rodgerd/pictures/wellington/2002_06_08/index.html Cook Strait seal colonies] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304023240/http://diaspora.gen.nz/~rodgerd/pictures/wellington/2002_06_08/index.html |date=4 March 2016 }}.</ref> Cook Strait offers good [[Big-game fishing|game fishing]]. [[Albacore|Albacore tuna]] can be caught from January to May. [[Swordfish|Broadbill swordfish]], [[Hyperoglyphe antarctica|bluenose]], [[Isurus|mako sharks]] and the occasional [[marlin]] and [[white shark]] can also be caught.<ref>[http://www.marlboroughonline.co.nz/index.mvc?ArticleID=43 The Marlborough Sounds]. Marlborough online. Retrieved 3 October 2008.</ref>