Submissions have now closed - thank you to all of you lodged a submission!
Please join us in this rare opportunity to support a proposal to ban bottom trawling and Danish seining along the coast from Rakaumangamanga Cape Brett to Mimiwhangata
Fisheries NZ has put out this proposal to close these areas under the Fisheries Act (go to their Discussion Paper)
The coastal waters between Cape Brett and Mimiwhangata have cultural and ecological significance. The rocky reefs and soft sediments support important marine communities, including sponges and bryozoans, and legally protected black, gorgonian, and stony corals. These communities create a habitat that provides shelter, protection, and food for a myriad of plants and animals, including many fish and taonga species. Bottom trawling and Danish seining are the main threat to the ecosystems and biodiversity on these reefs and soft seafloor areas.
Two options are being proposed:
- Option 1 – will prohibit bottom trawling and Danish seining in the whole area (red line on map) protecting rocky reefs, deep sponge gardens, and soft sediment habitats.
- Option 2 – will only prohibit trawling and Danish Seining on the reef areas (the two areas of blue lines on the map)
Great reasons to choose Option One:
- It will protect the full range of habitats: rocky reefs, deep sponge gardens, and soft sediment.
- A lot of the trawling in this area is on the soft sediments.
- The important and diverse community of organisms that live in the sediments are damaged by trawl gear.
- The organisms living in the sediment are a rich food source for many fish species, such as snapper.
- Long-lived, slow growing, sponges and corals take a long time to re-establish themselves after being damaged by trawl gear.
- Sedimentary areas are ecologically critical in certain life stages of many mobile species, like crustaceans.
- Bottom trawling creates great clouds of sediment that spread with the currents and smother organisms that live on the bottom, both in the sediment areas and on adjacent reefs.
- Marine sediments are a giant storage pit for organic matter. When bottom trawls disturb soft sediments, their stored carbon is released contributing to greenhouse gases and climate change (read more)
Isn’t Fish Forever trying to protect this area through the Northland Regional Plan?
Yes. Fish Forever, together with Ngāti Kuta, Te Uri o Hikihiki and Forest & Bird, have asked the Environment Court to prohibit bulk and damaging fishing methods (trawling and purse seining) in the area from around Cape Brett to Mimiwhangata. We are waiting for the Court’s decision. This Fisheries Act process has been initiated by Fisheries NZ in response to the Environment Court appeals - without the appeals it is highly unlikely Fisheries NZ would have taken action. Fisheries NZ would prefer that all fishing controls happen under the Fisheries Act. Fish Forever is more concerned with protecting the environment than with the specific legal process – we would love to see this area protected under both the Northland Regional Plan and the Fisheries Act.
Submissions deadline extended another week to 5pm on Tuesday 25 October 2022 – SEND YOURS TODAY
All of us with an interest and love of Tangaroa, let's work together and take on the challenge of marine protection for the Bay.