Taputeranga Marine Reserve Compliance Steps Up

“While the summer sunshine has attracted thousands of families and individuals to the shore of the Taputeranga Marine Reserve, compliance patrols and Coast Watch activities have kept pace”, said Murray Hosking, Chair of the Friends of the Marine Reserve Trust and organiser of the Taputeranga Coast Watch.

“Poaching reports are down, surveillance is up and people are enjoying the recovering numbers of marine fish and invertebrates at Taputeranga”.

Mr Hosking pays especial acknowledgement to the stepped up DOC ranger patrols since pre-Christmas.

“The intensity of patrols has been unprecedented and has represented a heavy workload for the Ranger. This has provided ‘billboard’ visibility to compliance work, both with the DOC ranger vehicle (and boat) and through the Ranger himself. People have commented on his excellent approach with members of the public when providing advice to those who may not know all that they need to know about respecting the reserve and its regulations.”

Up to 20 Coast Watch volunteers have been walking in their own time on weekends
and weekdays, identified by T-shirts as representing the Coast Watch. They have been able to engage with the public along the beaches and reefs of the marine reserve and meet and greet people to encourage them to enjoy the reserve and its shores.

‘We are pleased to report that the feedback from the public has been overwhelmingly positive about the reserve and its value to the region. This sense has come from local people, from visitors and from overseas tourists – the message is clear, people value the opportunity the marine reserve offers to show the high marine biodiversity of the region and to acknowledge the recovery since pre-reserve years (before 2008).”

“It has also been a pleasure to hear from self-confessed ‘hunter-gatherers’ who enjoy and value their fishing – whether by line or spear. Again, positive messages about the recovery of target fish and spillover beyond the boundaries of the reserve where fishers can enjoy a reliable catch experience.”

“We have also appreciated as perhaps never before the sheer accessibility of this unique marine reserve on the roads and bus routes of a Capital City and the numbers of visitors during the summer sunshine months.”

The Snorkel Trail, despite a few missing buoys, has again been very popular, with both snorkelers and trainee scuba divers. It has been good to hear the enthusiasm of visitors, especially children. Some have expressed real pleasure to Coast Watch walkers at the richness of the seaweeds and the habitats for marine life, compared with other regional snorkelling spots. The gentle messages from Coast Watchers about caring for the ‘critters’ have been appreciated. The Coast Watchers themselves speak of receiving wide support in the community.

Mr Hosking agrees, “For compliance with the marine reserves rules– that is, no fishing, and no gathering of shellfish, rock lobster or any other natural living things in the reserve – the help provided by the people along the South Coast is essential and welcome.”

Clearly, not all is rosy. The reality is that poaching will continue, that incidents may not be well-reported, or that information does not prove sufficient for prosecutions.

Breakdowns can occur in any systems subject to human factors. Compliance work is ongoing and resources to patrol will always be taxed.

“The tasks for the DOC, the Friends and the Coast Watch will not let up – we just need to adapt, seek resources, get smarter, keep the messages before the public and harness that very great body of support that the reserve enjoys”, said Mr Hosking.

The number one rule is to keep people safe as poaching incidents sometimes become highly charged. The rest is about being able to give the best picture possible of any perceived incident – fishing methods, people involved, cars, boats, gear and locations. Photographic evidence is invaluable but commonsense collection of observations is the main requirement.

Remember the DOC Hotline – 0800 362 468

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