Lost at Sea: Labour and Greens split over Campbell Island sanctuary

Tuesday, 23 June 2020

On ice, again - why is it taking so long to install fishing cameras? RNZ and Newsroom.co.nz's The Detail podcast investigates.

The Government has again bowed to fishing industry pressure and refused to extend a marine reserve around Campbell Island, a subantarctic sanctuary recognised for its value in conserving and maintaining unique creatures.

Campbell Island/Motu Ihupuku is uninhabited and is New Zealand's southern-most island. It is accepted as one of the most pristine places on earth and an important breeding ground for seabirds and marine mammals.

The move has exposed a split between the Green Party and its Government partner Labour over protection of the oceans.

Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage says she backed enlarging the sanctuary. But she was overruled by Fisheries Minister Stuart Nash, who sided with industrial fishing interests.

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Elephant seal numbers on Campbell Island have reduced by more than 97 per cent.

In 2014, the National-led Government established a marine reserve over 39 per cent of the territorial sea around the island group to protect marine species and habitats.

The legislation required an independent review within five years to consider whether the additional 61 per cent of sea be included in the reserve. This option was to allow for an exploratory fishery for deepwater crabs.

In February, consultancy Envirostrat, appointed by the Department of Conservation (DoC), recommended to Sage that the reserve be extended. The final decision was due in March.

A Southern Royal albatross on a nest on Campbell Island.

On Monday, months late and after enquiries by Stuff, DoC announced there would be no extra protection.

It comes after Ngāi Tahu apparently changed its position. Five years ago, when the reserve was established by the Subantarctic Islands Marine Reserve Act, the iwi argued for full protection.

Campbell Island is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

A Treasury impact statement from the time shows Ngāi Tahu had stated there was no customary fishing in the area, and there had been no commercial fishing for a long period of time.

Sage said she supported the extension of the marine reserve “in line with the recommendation of the independent review.”

“However the Minister of Fisheries [Stuart Nash] did not agree due to concerns raised by the Crown’s Treaty partner, Ngāi Tahu, and other stakeholders.

Conservation minister Eugenie Sage at Lake Wairarapa celebrating the application to have Wairarapa Moana recognised as a wetland of international significance.

“Therefore, the Campbell Island/Moutere Ihupuku Marine Reserve will not be extended to the remaining 61 percent of the island group’s territorial sea under the Subantarctic Islands Marine Reserves Act.

“Choosing not to extend the marine reserve under this act does not preclude other marine protection options being considered for this area in the future.”

In a written statement, a spokeswoman for Nash said exactly the same thing.

The islands are one of the world’s outstanding albatross breeding grounds, hosting six of the 22 species of albatross and mollymawk, including the world’s largest population of the Southern Royal albatross. Rockhopper penguins also breed there.

The islands are one of two subantarctic breeding grounds for the New Zealand sea lion and Southern elephant seals. New Zealand fur seals also breed on the volcanic cone island.

Kevin Hackwell of conservation advocates Forest and Bird said the decision was “very disappointing and very sad.”

“Campbell Island is a UNESCO World Heritage site and it is really important for place for taonga species.”

An albatross takes to the air off Campbell Island.

Plans for a 62,000 sq km ocean sanctuary in the Kermadec Islands stalled in 2016 after a legal challenge by Te Ohu Kaimoana (the Māori Fisheries Trust). Negotiations between the government and the industry have failed to reach a compromise.

Conservationists fear the commercial fishing sector has become emboldened by the “Kermadecs effect.”

“It's very sad,” Hackwell said. “There is very little fishing and almost no commercial value. The industry have opposed this on philosophical grounds.

“Ultimately, it works against the fishing industry because marine protected areas replenish stocks.”

There is a long-standing pattern of political lobbying by the fishing industry, including donations to parties. In recent years, the fishing lobby has stymied progress on putting observer cameras on boats and tougher regulations to protect endangered seabirds and dolphins.

Barry Weeber, a marine environmental researcher, with the Environment and Conservation Organisation (ECO) said: “I was certainly surprised at the Minister of Fisheries turning down the extension, because I was involved in the original working group that came up with the [2014] recommendations.

New Zealand sea lion numbers have declined “significantly” over the last 20 years.

“They [the fishing industry] had to prove that there was a potential crab fishery. They were given time to do that and they haven't proved it.

“Everyone said there was going to be no crabs – one of the main world crab experts [from NIWA] was on the working group and said: 'You're not going to find any'.

“So, it seems really, really odd and very disappointing that the minister hasn't approved it.”

Weeber says the industry is opposed to marine protected areas.

“And they've got the ear of the Minister, and they're not budging, basically.”

Ngāi Tahu, Te Ohu Kaimoana have been contacted for comment.