Marine Protection: West Coast of the South Island

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Submissions are now closed.

If you wish to recieve updates on these proposed marine reserves, contact K.knowles@forestandbird.org.nz

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The NZ public is being given the opportunity to protect some of the West Coast’s most prized marine areas and the threatened species that call it home, such as our endangered Hector's dolphin.

A series of seven ‘underwater national parks’ or marine reserves have been proposed for the West Coast of the South Island. The public has just three weeks to voice their support for this landmark proposal.

Seven marine reserves of varying size have been proposed;  one large reserve, 3 smaller reserves and 3 tiny reserves (see map)

For more detailed information on these proposals see here - westmarine.org.nz

Please help give our wonderful West Coast marine life a voice by making a submission on the proposals

Make your submission HERE to voice your support for marine protection of this area.

The Forum’s web site provides a submission form, to guide you in making a submission. Submissions can be made via email, or post.

To make an online submission visit this website - www.westmarine.org.nz- and click the button at the bottom of the homepage - 

Or send your submission to this postal address -  

West Coast Marine Protected Areas Proposals
Private Bag 701
HOKITIKA 7842

Submissions close at 5.00pm on Friday 21 August 2009.

Forest & Bird’s key points for submissions

The proposed protection areas are good, but there are a few important gaps:

• The small educational marine reserves should be enlarged to cover at least 10km2 This will allow an ecologically functional reserve where marine life can flourish.
• The marine reserves at Punakaiki, Okarito and Gorge should be extended out to the 12nm coastal boundary (or 200 metres in depth) to provide wider habitat and species protection and allow for recovery of fished areas.
• One additional marine reserves is needed at Charleston  to White Horse Creek. 
• Internationally, scientists are calling for 20-40% of our marine habitats and species to be protected.
• The Government’s target for protection is 10% of the territorial waters or coastal area. The proposals cover 8.8% of the West Coast’s coastal area. This means that over 90% of our West Coast marine habitats and species would still at risk from the impacts of fishing. Additional protection is needed.
• The position of the proposed marine reserves fall in areas that are not commonly frequented by fishers. Forest & Bird believes the proposals should be based on biological diversity and level of threat. For example, areas subjected to highly destructive fishing practices – like bottom trawling – should be included.
• Marine reserves are the best tool for marine biodiversity protection as they protect the whole ecosystem, from the sea surface to the sea floor. Inside a marine reserve people cannot fish, take marine life or damage the marine environment – but they can enjoy it through many other activities that do not harm it. Marine life such as fish, crayfish, seaweed and sponges can recover and replenish in marine reserves. In doing so they provide benefits beyond the boundaries supporting fishing and tourism industries.
• A network of decent sized marine reserves (larger than 5km2) along the coast will provide refuges for mobile marine life, protect our important breeding stocks and allow for genetic connectivity.