We love marine reserves

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New Zealanders are guardians of a large and unique marine environment - 15 times bigger than New Zealand’s land mass

Although we are a world leader in establishing marine reserves, these reserves still cover just 0.3 % of our marine environment – compared to the more than 30% of our land mass that is protected in parks and reserves.

Once teeming with life, our marine environments are under increasing threat from a wide variety of human activities: pollution, marine farming, mineral extraction, coastline development, tourist ventures, over-fishing and environmentally damaging fishing methods. All these activities take their toll on our vulnerable marine environments, plants and animals.

The establishment of marine reserves allows recovery of marine life. Marine reserves are “no take” areas protected from the sea surface to the seafloor where no fishing or removal of any other material is allowed. Diving, swimming, boating, kayaking, snorkelling and other activities that don’t harm marine life are permitted in marine reserves.

An ocean equivalent of our national parks, marine reserves provide a safe haven and nursery for our marine life. They also offer areas for scientific research so that we can assess the effects we have on them in other areas. Marine reserves also provide fantastic recreational areas where people can learn about our native underwater species as they watch them recover.

New Zealand’s first marine reserve (Cape Rodney – Okakari Point Marine Reserve) was established in 1977 and was one of the world’s first no-take marine reserves. Each year, it attracts more than 350,000 snorkellers, divers, sightseers and marine scientists.

Map of NZ's marine reserves

Now New Zealand has more than 30 marine reserves around its coastline (see map). 

Establishing marine reserves to regenerate native populations has been a key campaign for Forest & Bird.

Please note: this map does not include marine reserves in the Auckland Islands.

 

Why do we need more Marine Reserves?

Whilst over 30 marine reserves may sound significant, they provide protection for only 0.3% of our total marine environment. Our two largest marine reserves, representing 99% of the area protected by marine reserves in New Zealand waters, are located around our remote offshore islands (Kermadec and Auckland Islands). Our mainland coastal waters are still largely unprotected and our offshore waters are not protected at all.

The Marine Reserves Bill, the proposed legislation which would allow marine reserves in the offshore marine environment, has received substantial public submissions, yet has still not proceeded to become law.

The fishing industry has proposed an initiative to preserve the sea-floor by prohibiting bottom trawling in some areas. However, they do little to protect the marine environment because the designated areas are already largely unfished – being either too deep, or too far offshore for trawlers to venture.

Marine ecosystems are still under threat throughout most of New Zealand’s waters.

10% by 2010

In January 2006 the Government announced its Marine Protected Areas policy, which sets out the Government’s commitment to establish 10% protection of marine areas in protection by 2010 through (as required under The Convention on Biological Diversity). This was followed in 2008 by standards that guide the designation of marine reserves and other protection measures such as traditional mataitai and taiapure areas, and marine mammal sanctuaries.

Forest & Bird supports the new policy, but New Zealand is still a long-way behind the 10% target, leaving our marine life largely unprotected.

What is being done?

In June 2009 two of the government established Marine Protected Area Forums released proposals for new marine protection.

To find out more and to make a submission on the proposals, follow these links:

West Coast South Island
Subantarctic Islands