Read the Minister of Conservation, Maggie Barry's response to questions posed to her by Fish Forever regarding the establishment of marine reserves in the Bay of Islands...

By John Booth © - 2 December 2013

Everyone has something to add. In conversations around the state of the waters of the Bay of Islands, it’s not long before the seagrass (= eelgrass) beds—or the spoiling of them—crops up. Whereas in previous times mangroves were often seen as the great ecological refuge, seagrass meadows have largely taken on that mantle—much to the relief of many who thought mangroves sucked anyway.

By John Booth 3 February 2015
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Sea urchins (kina) have eaten out much of the shallow-water kelp of the Bay of Islands, defiling the Bay's essential life force. There appears no other credible explanation for the kelp loss. Similar destruction has taken place in many other parts of New Zealand, as well as overseas. The experience is that sea urchins increase in abundance as their key predators become overfished; the sea urchins consume or destroy the kelp over the band of the urchins' depth distribution; and this leads to the collapse of natural functioning of shallow-water reef ecosystems.

Have you been wondering what’s happening with Fish Forever and its campaign for no-take marine reserves in the Bay of Islands? 

In fact, lots has been going on - but not much of it headline-grabbing.

Written by Fish Forever's John Booth
published in the Russell Lights Thursday 29th May 2014

Download the article here

No question about it. A highlight of any tiki-tour of New Zealand is when you get to rub limbs with one of our giant kauri, protected forever in its natural state within a forest remnant. Even we locals – who tend to take for granted this legacy – have our awe rekindled whenever we get to re-acquaint ourselves with one of these great spirits that link us with some remote past.

Article from the Northern Advocate 25th October 2014...

{jacomment off}We received a great parcel from teacher Lynne Alexander and her year six kids at Springbank School in Kerikeri. They'd had two snorkel days with the Experiencing Marine Reserves team, one at Matauri Bay and the other at the Poor Knights marine reserve. Here's some of the kids letters to Samara of EMR. They're pretty keen on getting a marine reserves in the Bay!

{jacomment off}Today, Tuesday 13 May, sees the final opportunity to put forward submissions in support of the continuation of the temporary rāhui at Maunganui Bay, Eastern Bay of Islands.

Fish Forever has strongly advocated for the rāhui since it was gazetted in 2010 and is proud to add its voice to the many that recognise the benefits this temporary closure has brought to the marine life in Maunganui Bay.

Download the proposal here
Download the submission report here

Bay of Islands community group Fish Forever has published a community consultation document that proposes the protection of 10% of the enclosed waters of the Bay of Islands with no-take marine reserves.

Two potential marine reserve sites are put forward and Fish Forever intends to generate constructive public discussion around these sites. An online submission form is available to assist this process and the public is urged to participate by visiting www.fishforever.org.nz.

Ngati Konohi from Whangara, Gisborne are the first hapu in the country to establish a marine reserve. Their reserve has been running for 10 years and now feeds an adjoining mataitai area out in front of their marae. It's made a huge difference to fish and crayfish stocks.

A group from Ngati Kuta, Patukeha and Fish Forever visited Ngati Konohi at their marae at Whangara, Gisborne in September to learn first hand about their experience.

A huge thank you to Hone, the people of Ngati Konohi and Jamie Quirk from Doc for hosting us and giving us such an inspiring day.