Great
Barrier Marine Reserve Proposal Welcomed
Forest and Bird
16 June
2005
Press
Release by Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society at 7:15 PM,
16 Jun 2005
Forest and
Bird today welcomed the decision of the Minister of Conservation
to approve the Aotea (Great Barrier) Marine Reserve proposal as
a significant step forward in marine conservation.
"Forest
and Bird commends the Minister for his decision to approve the
Marine Reserve proposal," said Forest and Bird's Northern
Conservation Officer, David Pattemore. "He is right
to listen to the majority of submissions which supported the proposal."
"It is
also line with the recent poll in March which showed that 95 percent
of New Zealanders support more marine reserves."
"Our
marine conservation effort lags decades behind our efforts on
land, but this decision starts to correct that imbalance,".
The Minister
of Conservation today approved the 49,500 ha marine reserve off
the northeast coast of Great Barrier Island. The area has been
reduced since the proposal was advertised last year, with an area
around the Whangapoua Beach and the estuary excluded from the
reserve to allow fishing by local residents.
"Marine
reserves around the mainland of New Zealand have typically been
very small," said Mr. Pattemore. "This makes them much
more vulnerable to random events and flow-on impacts from fishing
outside of the reserve boundaries."
"The
Great Barrier Marine Reserve proposal will be New Zealand's third
largest and will provide benefits for a wide range of connected
habitats," he said.
Responding
to claims that no-take marine reserves limit public enjoyment
of the environment, Mr. Pattemore said, "The Leigh, Poor
Knights and Kapiti marine reserves attract many tens of thousands
of people each year to enjoy the experience of a protected marine
environment where the variety and abundance of sea-life is readily
accessible."
Apart from
its direct conservation value, this reserve is also likely to
be very important to Great Barrier Island's local tourism and
recreation economy.
"People
are increasingly aware that marine environments and species are
as important as those on land. New Zealand's record in
marine protection lags well behind our achievements in creating
national parks and reserves on land," he said.
The proposal
now needs the concurrence of the Minister of Fisheries and the
Minister of Transport.
"We hope
that these Ministers will approve the application this year,"
said Mr Pattemore.
Notes:
Currently the proportion of mainland New Zealand's coastal
waters in this form of protection is less than one percent, yet
about 33% of land is protected for conservation purposes.
ENDS