From:
Tiritiri Matangi Reserve Action Group
A proposal by the New Zealand Underwater Association (NZUA)
to establish an expansive no-take marine reserve that will
include Shag Rock, Shearer Rock, Tiritiri Matangi Island,
Tiri Channel and a substantial portion of Whangaparaoa Peninsula,
including Wellington Reef, Army Bay and Okoromai Bay, is causing
controversy and generating concern within many sectors.
Iwi, marine safety groups, boat clubs, fishing clubs, North
Shore and Whangaparaoa businesses, those lobbying for a coordinated
marine reserves strategy and even divers themselves are joining
forces to oppose or modify the reserve proposal.
NZUA released its proposal document, a glossy 12-page colour
brochure funded by the Department of Conservation, in mid-December,
and has given stakeholders until the 28th of February to respond.
This date represents the close of the non-statutory submission
process designed to ascertain the level of support or opposition
for the reserve. If there is overwhelming opposition NZUA
will discontinue its application, although this is unlikely
to happen because NZUA has aligned with Forest and Bird and
its membership is expected to generate a significant supporting
response.
Rex Smith, spokesperson for Tiritiri Matangi Reserve Action
Group (TMRAG), a Whangaparaoa-based group campaigning against
the marine reserve, says the limited submission period, the
impact of Christmas and New Year holidays and demands of summer
boating programmes do not allow sufficient opportunity for
interested parties to mobilise and respond. TMRAG has written
to New Zealand Underwater asking for the submission deadline
to be extended but, as yet, has not received a reply.
Martin Baker, spokesperson for the Hibiscus Coast Boating
Club, says the ad hoc nature in which no-take marine reserves
are being proposed is alarming, and a coordinated marine reserve
strategy for the entire Auckland region needs to be developed
and coordinated by central government before the Tiritiri
proposal is considered.
The proliferation of stand-alone applications with no proven
scientific value is concerning marine users and Baker says
the proposed Tiritiri Whangaparaoa Reserve and established
Okura Marine Reserve less then four nautical miles away (boundary
to boundary) are prime examples of how fragmented and unsubstantiated
the marine reserves process has become.
“The Okura Marine Reserve was sponsored by local residents
campaigning against a regional rubbish tip the ARA was proposing
to establish at the head of the estuary. The marine reserve
was part of a strategy to protect property values, lifestyle
and estuarine water quality. It was not driven by the need
for a reserve per se.”
“The Tiri reserve is being fronted by New Zealand Underwater
but it does not contain any significant dive sites such as
those found within the Poor Knights Marine Reserve. In fact,
a Rodney District Council sewage outfall discharges effluent
into the Tiritiri channel and both the scientific value and
underwater visibility within the reserve are questionable.”
Jane West, Ngati Whatua Iwi representative, supported Baker’s
call for an integrated national reserves policy at a meeting
held at the Hibiscus Coast Boating Club, 23 January. Ms West
formally asked New Zealand Underwater representative, Karli
Thomas, to postpone the association’s application until
such a policy was developed. Ms Thomas declined to delay or
halt New Zealand Underwater’s application.
NZUA say the proposed reserve is in line with the New Zealand
Diodiversity Strategy and the Auckland Regional Policy Statement
that support the formation of coastal reserves amounting to
10% of New Zealand’s seascape. However, the Long Bay
/ Whangaparaoa area already has a higher percentage of formal
and defacto reserves if the existing Okura/Long Bay Marine
Reserve, Cable Exclusion Zones and Explosive Dumping Ground
(disused) are counted.
With current reserve applications covering Tiritiri Island,
the end of Whangaparaoa, The Noises, parts of Waiheke Island
and a large section of Great Barrier Island out to the 12-mile
limit, Hauraki Gulf users are concerned their access rights
will be compromised by a disproportion number of marine reserves
and no take zones.
At the January 23rd meeting NZUA tried to placate fishermen
by claiming reserves enhance fish stocks outside of the reserve
boundaries. Option4 (New Zealand’s largest fishing rights
group) spokesperson, Scott Macindoe, says there is no scientific
evidence that reserves contribute to rebuilding fisheries
outside of reserve areas and the piecemeal establishment of
perpetual no-take zones is not valid fisheries management.
“Fisheries management must be implemented via the Quota
Management System and Recreational Fishing Regulations which
are designed to control the commercial and recreational take
respectively.”
Mr Macindoe also says any gain generated by the public adhering
to a no-take zone around Tiritiri will be passed on to the
commercial fishing industry who will catch their quota when
the snapper migrate to and from deeper water each year.
“When a rebuild in fish stocks occur the Ministry of
Fisheries allocates the additional fish to the commercial
sector, as recently happened in the Snapper 2 fishery.”
In essence, Macindoe is saying recreational fishermen who
gather food for family and friends will be impacted more heavily
by marine reserves than the commercial sector. This is demonstrated
by a legal challenge SeaFic (Seafood Industry Council) is
preparing to make against DOC’s expansion of marine
reserves in both the 12-mile and 200-mile zones.
SeaFic’s challenge comes off the back of an opinion
from Chen and Palmer that total
exclusion for fishing within the exclusive economic zone (200
miles) is illegal under the United Nation’s Convention
on the Law of the Sea. It is due to a technicality with regards
to New Zealand having "sovereignty" over the 12-mile
limit but only "sovereign rights" out to 200 miles
(more like guardianship than ownership).
This will focus the bulk of the marine reserves within the
12-mile limit where small boat fishermen traditionally fish
around sheltering headlands and islands. Tiritiri Matangi
island and the outer Whangaparaoa Peninsula are amongst the
best protected small boat fishing grounds in the Hauraki Gulf
and rescue organisations such as Auckland Volunteer Coast
Guard are concerned that lives will be put at risk if small
boats are forced to fish in more exposed waters.
Les Sharman, spokesperson for the Hibiscus Coast Rescue Trust,
says Tiritiri Matangi island and Whangaparaoa Peninsula are
traditional small boat fishing grounds and it is unthinkable
they will be placed off limits to satisfy a few scenic divers
swimming in poor visibility and even fewer academics studying
a marine environment already hugely modified by man.
A public rally will be held 7pm, Thursday 13th February at
Hibiscus Coast Boating Club, Stanmore Bay Reserve, Whangaparaoa.
Everyone interested in opposing or modifying the NZUA’s
marine reserve proposal is urged to attend. For more information
contact: John Friend 09 427 9989.
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