After six years of arguing, south-east dolphins and sea birds to get protection

Saturday, 11 May 2019

The government will create a huge marine sanctuary off the wild east coast of the South Island, vetoing proposals from the fishing industry for less ambitious marine protection.

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are like national parks for the ocean, and the newest reserve will stretch from Timaru in South Canterbury to Waipapa point in Southland. It will cover 1267sq km, about the size of Auckland.

Fisheries Minister Stuart Nash and Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage rejected a smaller sanctuary of 366 sq km, backed by fishing interests, over the larger zone, favoured by environment, tourism, community and science representatives.

But conservationists are still likely to be disappointed, as the protection is fragmented and will not fully safeguard fragile populations of hoiho (yellow eyed) penguins, Hector's dolphins and sea lions.

**READ MORE:

* South East Marine Protection Forum final meeting heading into next year

* Southern fishermen to submit on South-East Marine Protection Forum

* Scientists set 30 per cent target for the protection of open ocean by 2030**

Just a tiny fraction of New Zealand's marine environment is protected - less than half a per cent - and most of it is on remote islands, like the Subantarctic islands. Scientists say it should be 30 per cent.

Establishing the south east marine protected area was a long-running saga, which began in October 2013. An independent forum was established to canvas feedback from the public and report back to the Government. Public discussions were reported to be heated and the forum received almost 3000 submissions.

But they couldn't reach consensus, so gave the Government two options.

Nash said they picked the proposal favoured by scientists, environmentalists, one of two recreational fishing bodies, and the community. 

'After careful consideration we have decided to consult on progressing the larger … option which covers 1267 km2 and includes 17 of the 22 coastal habitats …seven of 12 estuarine habitats and two biogenic habitats,' he said.

In the MPA there are only six marine reserves with no-take/no-disturbance areas, and five zones where restrictions are placed on certain types of fishing. The commercial harvesting of bladder kelp north of the Otago Peninsula will be banned.

The fishers' option covered only 10 of the 22 coastal habitats, with three 'no-take' areas.

'We believe this option will create the best protection for important habitats and feeding areas for marine mammals, birds, fish and invertebrates,' Sage said.

However, when first proposed, scientists and conservationists argued that both proposals still fell short. They had asked for much larger protected areas, buffer zones and more stringent protection for species like marine mammals and seabirds that travel great distances.

And the debate still isn't over: the Government is putting its decision out for more consultation. 'We want to ensure that all views on implementing marine protection in this region are heard and considered,' Sage said.

The south east is the only region in the country without any form of Marine Protected Area. It is also a hotpot for endangered Hector's dolphins.

The Government is under increasing international pressure to protect the tiny creature, of which there are only 10-15,000 left. Seven were killed in fishing nets over the summer months.

Scientists, involved in the fight to save the rare Mexican vaquita porpoise, have sent a video message and letter to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Nash and Sage.

Adam Ü, of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said illegal fishing is hindering recovery efforts in Mexico.

'Nets are the biggest threats to both species, so it's human interactions that are the problem.  In Mexico it's mainly illegal fisheries which means there are a ton of other issues - corruption, cartels, international trafficking -  that are hindering relief and recovery efforts.  

'New Zealand doesn't have those issues …so the only things hindering relief and recovery efforts down there are political.'

He filmed the message with colleagues Juan Carlos Salinas and Ernesto Vázquez as they unsuccessfully tried to collect a skin sample that would have been cryogenically stored in the hope that one day scientists may bring the vaquita back from extinction. 

'It's entirely possible that the species will be extinct by the time we are able to launch another expedition.  This could have been avoided if we had acted earlier to protect the vaquita from fishing nets,' he said, in a message to the ministers. 

'I understand that saving Māui dolphin would require bold political action but I have no doubt that a willing New Zealand government could act to ensure the survival of one of your iconic endemic species. Their fate is quite literally in your hands.'