South-East Marine Protection Planning Forum
27 April 2016

Community Support for Marine Protection on South-East Coast.

The findings of a questionnaire circulated by the South-East Marine Protection Forum suggest that there is strong community support for some form of marine protection on the South Island’s south-east coast. Of the 301 people who participated in theOurSeaYourSay questionnaire, 90% said, ‘Yes something needs to be done to protect the marine values of the region’. Only 8% said, ‘Nothing needs to be done’.

The Forum, created in March 2014 with support from the Department of Conservation and the Ministry for Primary Industries, has been asked to recommend to the Government what coastal sites, from Timaru in South Canterbury down to Waipapa Point in Southland, are deserving of marine protection and what type of marine protection the sites need.

Forum Chairwoman Maree Baker- Galloway says the questionnaire was one way of reaching into the community to gain some broad understanding, and enable community to input to the marine protected area process. Other methods being used included public meetings and direct contact with interested individuals and groups.

“It was never intended to be a rigorous social survey, rather it has allowed the Forum to understand a little more of the history of the marine environment, what has changed, what people value about it, what the threats are to those values and what communities want to see happen to their marine environments in the future.

“The number and quality of responses demonstrates how important the coastal area is to the people of the region.”

The most popular activities in marine spaces were: going to the beach (70%); swimming (54%); fishing – recreational (52%); marine mammal watching (50%); and collecting shellfish (50%).

The main values identified included: biodiversity values - bryozoan reefs, coastal reefs and other biogenic habitats; water quality and water visibility; healthy marine environment/ecosystem; areas of natural and historic value to Ngai Tahu, artifact digs, fossils; fishing, food gathering, mahinga kai, and kaimoana; vegetation and wildlife values; education, employment, recreation, and scenic and spiritual values.

Half of the questionnaire participants considered that the environment had declined to some degree while 15% thought it hadn’t changed and 8% thought it had improved. This was relatively consistent across all parts of the region.

The main risks and threats to the environment that were identified related to fishing, wildlife, land use practices and development, water quality, erosion, rubbish and pollution, sedimentation, pests, vehicles and dogs, and visitor pressure.

Overall, the main suggestions for protection were: marine reserves; various options for other types of marine protected areas; networks of marine protected areas; land/sea protection and restoration; access; and fisheries restrictions. Some participants also suggested that any options shouldn’t impact recreational fishing.

Maree Baker –Galloway says, “The Forum will take onboard the many points raised in the questionnaire and use them as discussion points during our deliberations. We are continuing to engage with the different stakeholder groups and public, and encourage groups and individuals to share their views with the Forum.”

The Forum is expected to release its draft recommendations for public consultation in October this year. The final recommendations are scheduled to be provided to the Government by April 2017.

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