Report urges regions to tackle marine 'biggies'

Monday, 31 October 2016

Fragile coastlines face growing challenges from land and sea-based human activity, a ministry report says.

A national report highlighting the fragile state of the marine environment has backed many of the challenges the Marlborough District Council is 'grappling' with in its proposed environment plan, a councillor says.

The joint report from the Ministry of Environment and Statistics New Zealand, titled Our Marine Environment 2016, highlights the fragile state of the marine environment caused by sedimentation, marine pests and nutrient run-off, declining populations of marine seabird and mammals, and global greenhouse emissions causing ocean acidification and warming.

The report also shows the growing pressure from land and sea-based human activities on the country's oceans, coasts and marine wildlife.

Marlborough District councillor David Oddie, who is the incoming environment committee chairman, said the report confirmed the issues of sedimentation and seabed disturbance.

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These were some of the issues council had been 'grappling' with as a community to develop the Marlborough Environment Plan, he said.

They were seen by Government as among the top three issues facing our coastal environment, he said.

'The report highlights that coastal ecosystems are degraded and under the most pressure from human activities and we will be mindful of the contents of this report when we come to review public submissions on the Marlborough Environment Plan.

'We depend on good water quality and healthy ecosystems to sustain our aquaculture, fishing, tourism and recreation.'

The new environment committee would be briefed by council staff on November 24 on how the report directly related to Marlborough.

Nelson-based environment consultant Rob Davidson said the report backed the council's recent Marlborough Environment Plan, and State of Environment 2015 report.

'It showed the council had taken aboard the key issues in the region and were on the same page.'

Positive action from local authorities and the community was needed to prevent more marine coastline degradation, he said.

'The report documents what scientists have known and have been saying to the world for a while.

'We know the problems, what is required now is action.

'Overall it's a good report because it has focused on the 'biggies' such as the global issues, as well as issues which affect the Marlborough region such as sedimentation and physical disturbance of the marine environment, and marine pests.

'It's re-emphasised the bigger issues and how they can be acted upon locally.'

People could help lower greenhouse emissions by using public transport, or fence off riparian boundaries to prevent runoff, he said.

Environment Ministry secretary Vicky Robertson said the joint marine report showed the fragile marine environment faced serious challenges including global greenhouse gas emissions.

Ninety per cent of native seabirds and shorebirds were threatened with or risked extinction, and more than a quarter of native marine mammals were threatened with extinction, the report said.

Ocean acidification made it more difficult for shellfish, such as paua and mussels, to form shells while climate change was warming the ocean and causing sea-level rises which impacted not only fish but other wildlife and coastal communities.

Forest & Bird chief executive Kevin Hackwell said the report failed to cover all the threats to the marine environment.

'There is no mention of the impacts of noise disturbance on our marine mammals, and very little on the threats to marine ecosystems from seabed mining, and oil and gas exploration,' he said.

Hackwell said the report was a 'timely and useful reminder' urgent change was needed to save unique marine species and habitats.