Forest & Bird: Forum: Marine and Coastal - Recent Topics

Gerry on "Haast-Milford New Highway Promotion"

Gerry — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:42:50 +0000

Tourism promoters in Southland and Scenic Circle Hotel Owner Earl Hageman have this month been pushing hard for the construction of a highway through the heart of the South West NZ-Te Wahi Pounamu World Heritage Site. The road would link Haast south along the wilderness coastline to Big Bay then up the Hollyford Valley to join up with the Milford Road. It would be an ecological disaster. There has been a lot of coverage given to the proposal in Southland, Otago and West Coast papers but the biggest push seems to be coming from Southland tourist promoters not from the West Coast. At a time when we are trying to limit CO2 emissions from vehicles, the construction of a massive new highway is unwarranted. The road would drive a dagger through the wilderness of Southern South Westland. It would destroy coastal rainforest breeding areas of endangered tawaki (Fiordland Crested penguin) all the way along the coastline, about 40km length in total. There would be massive destruction of wilderness. New bridges would hasten the movement across rivers of possums into places where they have not yet colonised. Maintaining our existing NZ highway network is a huge annual cost and if the one lane bridges are eventually to be replaced on Highway 6, the existing highway maintenance cost will be even more massive. Ironically, the Haast-Hollyford Road compounds, rather than relieves, any pressure on Milford Sound road access. This is because the vehicle pressure point is the Homer Tunnel to Milford stretch. The proposed road does nothing to mitigate this. It would link up with the existing road east of the Homer tunnel in the Upper Hollyford. We all thought that this wilderness road concept had died a natural death years ago but at a time when there are calls for infrastructure projects to boost the economy, we need to watch this one closely to make sure it doesn't gather a head or steam. Has anyone got any photos of the Hollyford or the Big Bay coastline?

Tawaki on "Russian Fishing Boat Plundering the Ross Sea and now in trouble"

Tawaki — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:17:22 +0000

Caring New Zealanders who support a Ross Sea marine reserve will be delighted I'm sure to know that our hard earned taxes are paying for a NZ Air Force Hercules aircraft and ships to go to the rescue of a Russian fishing boat in the Ross Sea. Check out the photos on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz" rel="nofollow">www.stuff.co.nz</a> and you can see how this sinking rust bucket is hard against the Antarctic ice with a hole well below its waterline. Undoubtedly down in the Ross Sea to plunder the Antarctic toothfish, this marine rescue and potential environmental disaster is yet another example of why the entire Ross Sea should be a fully protected marine reserve where fishing is outlawed. Over the next few days we will no doubt learn who the Russian boat was fishing for and what, if any, NZ involvement there is in its charter or its fishing operations. We shouldn't forget that NZ fishing companies are up to their eyeballs in the plunder of this last great fishing wilderness, Antarctica and its surrounding waters. I don't want my taxes used to rescue environmental scumbags. Let the other rogue fishermen down there show the solidarity of the oceans and rescue their own collaborators.

black tomtit on "ships documentary"

black tomtit — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 04:59:24 +0000

After the Rena incident and the Russian boat Sparta I felt is is time to raise the topic of a very interesting documentary I saw about twenty years ago about oil tankers and bulk carriers sinking causing environmental disasters and deaths of people working aboard them. I can't remember the name of the documentary or who put it out. It came out after the Braer oil spill in Shetland. It was very interesting as it went into the details of flags of convienience and ships that had rusted right through and whose owners coverered up the evidence. Has anyone else seen it? or taped it? I guess it was on so long ago there were only videos I taped it but the tape was lost and there were no DVDs back in those days.

Kirstie on "Somali pirates protect fish stocks"

Kirstie — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:09:04 +0000

An interesting article on the Herlad website today suggests that fish stocks off the coast of Kenya are being boosted - largely in part to Somali pirates preventing illegal trawlers from catching fish in the region. Two messages in this for me - 1. Enforcement of rules is needed and it really works 2. Trawl fishing can have devastating impacts on fish stocks. So,... what about here? Trawl fishing is amongst the most commonly practised commercial fishing method in New Zealand - if not THE most common fishing method. Our enforcement is poor. The highest rate of observer cover is about 40% - largely in fisheries with high bycatch of sea lions and seabirds. Our domestic tuna fleet however (which catches and fins more sharks than it catches tuna) has less than 1% observer cover. What do you think we should do about this?

black tomtit on "Our vanishing elephant seals"

black tomtit — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 02:06:14 +0000

I have read with concern the number of Southern elephant seals has declined by a staggering 97%. This never makes the news. Everyone talks about sea lions and fur seals being killed but neither of these has declined by 97% since the 1950s. As they are marine mammals also we should be very concerned that they have undergone such a massive decline and appear to be heading for extinction in our sector of the Southern ocean. Are they also caught in commercial fisheries? as no one ever talks about elephant seal bycatch. Or is it overfishing of the toothfish which elephant seals eat. Or is it the biggest threat to our planet Global warming?

auckland anne on "Pacific's "Plastic Vortex""

auckland anne — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 04:45:58 +0000

Interesting article in today's Herald about the rubbish in what has been dubbed "the plastic vortex" of the Pacific Ocean (must be an area of the ocean where rubbish accumulates) and the use of a floating processing plant (a ship moored nearby) to convert some of the rubbish into diesel to power the plant. They estimate six million tonnes of plastic has collected in the site by swirling currents. The hope is that if this scheme works here, then it can become a prototype for clean-ups in other plastic-polluted waterways. Interesting to see that with current technologies, they claim "a car can be run for an hour from a lump of plastic the size of an ice-cream carton".

auckland anne on "Marine creatures and high-intensity noise underwater"

auckland anne — Sun, 08 May 2011 01:16:11 +0000

Interesting video about how intense noises underwater effects marine life <a href="http://www.nrdc.org/wildlife/marine/sonarvideo/video.asp" rel="nofollow">http://www.nrdc.org/wildlife/marine/sonarvideo/video.asp</a> Relevant with increasing applications to explore for and extract oil and gas off our shores and what looks like any- and every-where.

auckland anne on "new marine reserve proposal up north"

auckland anne — Wed, 11 May 2011 01:58:10 +0000

Mimiwhangata - proposed marine reserve. Yahoo!. <a href="http://www.forestandbird.org.nz/what-we-do/campaigns/we-love-marine-reserves/mimiwhangata-marine-reserve-proposal" rel="nofollow">http://www.forestandbird.org.nz/what-we-do/campaigns/we-love-marine-reserves/mimiwhangata-marine-reserve-proposal</a>

kukupa on "Fish For Ever."

kukupa — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 21:37:21 +0000

FISH FOR EVER! Please have your say on were you would like a 100% no-take zones for a generation (25 years review) We are looking for about 10% of the Bay of Islands. <a href="http://www.fishforever.org.nz/have-your-say-55/select-your-sanctuaries" rel="nofollow">http://www.fishforever.org.nz/have-your-say-55/select-your-sanctuaries</a> If you go to the home page, you can find Some Recommended Areas. Pass it on, polls close soon!

Tawaki on "Great Conservation Hero Passes Away"

Tawaki — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 19:40:34 +0000

<a href="http://www.nzherald.co.nz/education/news/article.cfm?c_id=35&objectid=10711028" rel="nofollow">http://www.nzherald.co.nz/education/news/article.cfm?c_id=35&objectid=10711028</a> Professor John Morton a Distinguished Life Member of Forest and Bird and a great battler for natural New Zealand passed away on March 9. As Auckland University Professor of Zoology, he made a huge contribution to increase our awareness of the oceans and seashore that surrounds us. He was also at the forefront of the native forest conservation campaigns of the last 30 years. A mighty totara has fallen. To his wife Pat and his family all the best wishes from the Forest and Bird family.

auckland anne on "Mangrove removal"

auckland anne — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 23:09:19 +0000

There has been a lot of discussion about the removal or otherwise of mangroves. This fact sheet form the then Auckland Regional Council is helpful <a href="http://www.arc.govt.nz/albany/fms/main/Documents/Plans/Regional%20Policy%20and%20Plans/Operative%20ARP%20Coastal/Change%204/Mangrove%20seedling%20removal%20factsheet%20Oct%202010.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.arc.govt.nz/albany/fms/main/Documents/Plans/Regional%20Policy%20and%20Plans/Operative%20ARP%20Coastal/Change%204/Mangrove%20seedling%20removal%20factsheet%20Oct%202010.pdf</a>

auckland anne on "Seaweek 2011"

auckland anne — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 20:24:27 +0000

Seaweek is nearly upon us. Next week it begins. Here's the website showing the events on all around the country <a href="http://www.seaweek.org.nz/" rel="nofollow">http://www.seaweek.org.nz/</a>

Kirstie on "Vietnam to establish 11 new MPAs"

Kirstie — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:56:30 +0000

News today that Vietnam is to establish 11 more marine protected areas: <a href="http://english.vovnews.vn/Home/Vietnam-to-establish-11-more-marine-protected-areas/200912/110381.vov" rel="nofollow">http://english.vovnews.vn/Home/Vietnam-to-establish-11-more-marine-protected-areas/200912/110381.vov</a> Shame the same can't be said of New Zealand - whose Marine Reserve and MPA implementation work seems to have gone sour. Vietnam will set up 11 new marine protected areas (MPA) from now to 2015 so that MPAs will cover 0.24 percent of the country’s total sea area, according to an MPA development plan for the 2010-2020 period. At a seminar held in Nha Trang city, south central Khanh Hoa province, on November 30, the Department of Fisheries Resources Management presented a list of the planned MPAs. Between 2016-2020, the department will focus on improving the legal documents and development plans regarding MPAs, as well as the capacity of officials involved in the field. The department will also try to zone up five more MPAs in this period. Vietnam currently has four MPAs situated in Nha Trang bay, on Con Co island in Quang Tri province, Cham isle in Quang Nam province and Phu Quoc island in Kien Giang province.

auckland anne on "Punishment for bashing fur seal"

auckland anne — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 01:45:47 +0000

A baby fur seal was found bashed this morning, in Henderson Creek (West Auckland). Some good news already though. They've already arrested two men who bashed the seal up. The men caught the seal while dragging a net along the creek fishing, and when the seal got entangled in the net they set about hitting it and also again when they landed it on shore. They are facing a $250,00 fine from DoC or six months in jail. A different punishment has been suggested. Tie them up, rub them all over with dead fish, and throw them into the midst of a group of bull seals.

Kirstie on "Akaroa Marine Reserve declined"

Kirstie — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 20:31:59 +0000

It's been a good few weeks now since the Minister of Conservation bizarelly turned down the Akaroa Marine Reserve on the basis of an undue 'adverse impact on recreational fishing'. A decision she made personally, without taking the normal steps on consulting the Fisheries and Transport Ministers. A decision that also bodes ill for marine reserve applications of the future. The applicant - Akaroa Harbour Marine Protection Society - are understandably pretty upset. Listen to an interview with them here: <a href="http://www.plainsfm.org.nz/podcasts/" rel="nofollow">www.plainsfm.org.nz/podcasts/</a>

auckland anne on "KCC Beach Clean Up"

auckland anne — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 04:04:29 +0000

Central Auckland branch KCC had a successful day out at Motuihe Island recreation reserve in the Hauraki Gulf cleaning the beaches there. Lots of rubbish brought back as rubbish and recyclables (sorted into separate lots). Enjoyed by all, and the kids learned about hazards of marine litter. Congratulations KCC...

auckland anne on "Marine reserve lobbying in BoI"

auckland anne — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 01:06:29 +0000

Have just recently been made aware of the lobbying going on in BoI for more marine reserves <a href="http://www.marinereserve.co.nz/?p=521" rel="nofollow">http://www.marinereserve.co.nz/?p=521</a> Interesting comments on F&B Facebook page about marine protection too from members and non-members about the topic.

auckland anne on "Mangroves"

auckland anne — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 01:23:38 +0000

Sensible advice and a fantastic picture <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=167885&o=all&op=1&view=all&subj=137540437632&id=100001432936284" rel="nofollow">http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=167885&o=all&op=1&view=all&subj=137540437632&id=100001432936284</a>

auckland anne on "Marine Pollution resources"

auckland anne — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 21:15:14 +0000

Here's a link to an really good website which F&B is a member of. The page is all about marine pollution <a href="http://www.ecoevents.org.nz/coastal-clean-up" rel="nofollow">http://www.ecoevents.org.nz/coastal-clean-up</a> It has some really great resources available for adults and kids. Some of the videos on it for example are just great especially for teaching children about marine debris.

Karen on "Census of Marine Life - first ever global census of marine life - done!"

Karen — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 01:09:21 +0000

Census of Marine Life - first ever global census of marine life - done! <a href="http://www.coml.org" rel="nofollow">www.coml.org</a> This collaborative project by 80 countries involving 2,700 scientists including NZ scientists has taken 10 years and revealed what, where, and how much lives and hides in our global oceans. This census will establish baselines so that we can more effectively measure changes in the marine environment from human activities such as oil spills and climate change. It has also discovered new species and documented diminished abundance. Released this week are maps, three landmark books, and a highlights summary that crown a decade of discovery. The now-completed documentation in books and journals, plus the accumulating databases and established websites, videos, and photo galleries report and conclude the first Census. Over the decade more than 2,600 academic papers were published - one, on average, every 1.5 days. Presented is an unprecedented picture of the diversity, distribution, and abundance of all kinds of marine life in Planet Ocean - from microbes to whales, from the icy poles to the warm tropics, from tidal near shores to the deepest dark depths. Oceanic diversity is demonstrated by nearly 30 million observations of 120,000 species organized in the global marine life database of the Census, the Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS). The migrations tracked across seas and up and down in the water column, plus the revealed ubiquities of many species, demonstrate connections among oceans. Comparisons of the present ocean with the bountiful ocean life portrayed in old archives document changes. The OBIS directory of names and addresses of known ocean species establishes a reference against which humanity can monitor 21st century change. It also delineates the vast areas of ocean that have never been explored. Released this week: First Census of Marine Life 2010: Highlights of a Decade of Discovery (CoML, 64 pages), edited by Jesse H. Ausubel, Darlene Trew Crist and Paul E. Waggoner. Click here for the highlights summary: <a href="http://www.coml.org/embargo/Census-2010" rel="nofollow">www.coml.org/embargo/Census-2010</a> The highlights summary draws from the three books officially launched today: Discoveries of the Census of Marine Life: Making Ocean Life Count(Cambridge University Press, 304 pages), by Paul V.R. Snelgrove, an overview of Census insights and their implications (http://coml.org/discoveries-census-marine-life ); Life in the World's Oceans: Diversity, Distribution, and Abundance(Blackwell Publishing Ltd., 384 pages), Alasdair D. McIntyre (editor), a summary of findings and discoveries by the 17 Census projects (http://coml.org/life-worlds-oceans ); and Citizens of the Sea: Wondrous Creatures from the Census of Marine Life,(National Geographic, 216 pages), by Nancy Knowlton, portraits of about 100 species (http://coml.org/citizens-sea ). Also released: A National Geographic Society map, depicting the Census' work showing "Ocean Life: Diversity, Distribution, and Abundance" on one side and "Ocean Life: Past, Present and Future" on the other; New scientific reports from the Census of Marine Life added to the new open access Collections and Biodiversity Hub of the Public Library of Science (http://ploscollections.org/coml ) And on Oct. 6: A song, "Look to the Sea,"contributed by singer/composer Maryann Camilleri, musician Jerry Harrison (formerly of the Talking Heads), and engineer David Dennison (responsible for numerous recordings of Jerry Garcia), with accompanying video by National Geographic Television / Digital Media (available for free download at 8 pm GMT Oct. 6). It joins a range of works of art including paintings, sculpture, films, and photography by many international artists inspired by the Census. Legacies of the first Census Legacies of the first Census - knowledge, technology, and habits of global co-operation -- will transmute its effort and expense into investment. These include: OBIS, sometimes called a "macroscope," a tool to reveal large patterns and grasp meaning in millions of marine life observations around the globe. OBIS is the world's largest marine species data archive, compiling centuries of observations to which Census scientists added their own in a freely accessible public infrastructure for research. Baselines of biodiversity, distribution, and abundance to assess damage from future oil spills and pollution or from climate change, such as warming water or a changing ocean chemistry. Findings recorded in books and reports, most freely accessible online. Sampling protocols and standards for information collection and archiving, imparting order and comparability around the globe and through time. Dependable information to improve national ocean policy and management, and the international Convention on Biological Diversity and other agreements to protect high seas resources, sustain fisheries, and regulate seabed mining. Means to identify the species of a specimen, even from a fish scale, using DNA barcoding. Marine elements of the incipient Global Earth Observation System of Systems, including: A growing global ocean tracking network of microphones to track salmon and other migrant animals, launched with an array from California past Canada to Alaska. A legion of "bio-logger" animals, thousands strong, equipped with compact devices that record data for future retrieval or for reporting in near real time on their diving and travels along the continents or across the oceans. Special sonar devices and techniques to see marine life assembling in schools and moving up, down, or across tens of thousands of square kilometers of ocean. Innovative "Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures," which contribute to standardized global comparisons and monitoring of reef life.

auckland anne on "Motorway work in Motu Manawa/Pollen Island marine reserve"

auckland anne — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 23:46:23 +0000

Hi All In Saturday's Herald is public notice of the applications for resource consent and notices of requirement for the Waterview Motorway Connection Project. The crux of the Herald message is that the Ministers of Conservation and the Minister for Environment are referring consent applications lodged now by NZTA for the motorway works through Pollen Island marine reserve (which F&B applied for), to a board of inquiry because of the concerns about effects on the environment. "The proposal would involve reclamation of land within the Motu Manawa (Pollen Island) Marine Reserve. Section 3(1) of the Marine Reserves Act 1971 describes the preservation of marine reserves as being in the national interest...The Waterview Estuary and Northern sides of the existing causeway...comprise bird feeding grounds and roosting habitats important for a number of nationally threatened species". We ask that members make even a brief submission by 15th Oct to the Environmental Protection Agency (submission forms are available on <a href="http://www.epa.govt.nz" rel="nofollow">www.epa.govt.nz</a>) or by calling 0800 4268439, asking for significant mitigation because the removal of part of the marine reserve, in particular steps to ensure better protection of the mangrove habitat that houses the significant number of threatened birds which feed and roost in the marine reserve. Negotiations we have been having with NZTA and DoC since 2007 has resulted in some really good steps are being taken with regard to weed and pest control on Traherne Island which neighbours Pollen Island but which is still owned by LINZ, but there is ongoing disagreement about responsibilities to make allowance for effects on the surrounding marine reserve. This is an important issue for F&B because of the long-term interest in this marine reserve by F&B, and also because of other recent decisions by the govt about marine reserves elsewhere. We don't want to see another example of an area of high conservation value which was legally 'protected' (in this case by being gazetted as a marine reserve) having that level of protection overturned in order to facilitate development.

auckland anne on "New Marine Reserve - Tawharanui"

auckland anne — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 06:32:38 +0000

Interestingly the Minister has agreed to a new marine reserve in the Auckland region. Really makes me wonder even more about whether there's some sort of personality thing of some sort going on in Canterbury with, amongst a number of things, the recent turn-down of a marine reserve there. Mind you, god isn't the only one who moves in mysterious ways! Whatever, a new marine reserve is a good thing. This one's at Tawharanui. <a href="http://www.nzherald.co.nz/environment/news/article.cfm?c_id=39&objectid=10676436" rel="nofollow">http://www.nzherald.co.nz/environment/news/article.cfm?c_id=39&objectid=10676436</a>

Kirstie on "Minister to ban dolphin captivity"

Kirstie — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 20:56:03 +0000

Great news for our dolphins and great news for our long standing battlers in Napier - news today that the Minister of Conservation wants a ban on dolphins being held in captivity: <a href="http://www.wspa-usa.org/pages/3451_september_brings_hope_and_despair_for_dolphins.cfm" rel="nofollow">http://www.wspa-usa.org/pages/3451_september_brings_hope_and_despair_for_dolphins.cfm</a>

Kirstie on "Shellfish selfishness"

Kirstie — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 21:52:26 +0000

Media release from the Ministry of Fisheries: 7 September 2010 Scallop selfishness in the Sounds Since the opening of the recreational scallop season on 15 July, Fishery Officers have been carrying out land and sea patrols in the top of the south to make sure fishers are aware of the rules and are following them. A large number of fishers have been inspected, with the majority staying within the daily bag limit of 50 per gatherer. However, there are always those who think they can operate outside the rules and take excess or undersize shellfish. Last weekend, Fishery Officers from Nelson and Blenheim apprehended a group of four in possession of more than 1000 scallops, many of which were undersize, in Squally Cove near Okiwi Bay. Nelson Bays/Marlborough Field Operations Manager Geoff Clark said he believed that these scallops, more than four times the permitted daily bag limit, had been gathered that day. “Two thousand partially frozen scallops were also located in a search of a property the group had been staying in. The indications are that these scallops had been gathered over the preceding two days.” Five people were spoken to regarding this incident and are likely to face serious charges, which will be decided in the near future. A boat, dinghy and vehicle that the group used to gather the scallops have been seized. “We won’t put up with this sort of behaviour,” Mr Clark said. “The rules are there for a reason – to make sure there are enough scallops for the community to share now and in future.” Fishers are reminded that the minimum size of scallops for this area is 90 millimetres across the widest part of the shell and that a daily bag limit of 50 per gatherer applies. Fishery Officers will be out patrolling our beaches as the weather improves, but they cannot be everywhere. The public are encouraged to report any suspicious activity to the Ministry of Fisheries on 0800 4 POACHER (0800 476 224). The recreational scallop gathering season in this area closes on 14 February 2011

auckland anne on "marine plastics pollution"

auckland anne — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 23:06:22 +0000

This video gives a further insight into how rubbish-collections can help fight marine pollution <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePDxVohj6PA&feature=player_embedded" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePDxVohj6PA&feature=player_embedded</a> Always good being reminded about how our efforts are contributing.

Kirstie on "Hope for Maui's following DOC DNA findings"

Kirstie — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 02:40:38 +0000

DOC has today released a statement about our Maui's dolphins that may,.... just may offer a glimmer of hope for these critically endangered animals. <a href="http://www.doc.govt.nz/about-doc/news/media-releases/dna-profiling-helps-save-mauis-dolphins/" rel="nofollow">http://www.doc.govt.nz/about-doc/news/media-releases/dna-profiling-helps-save-mauis-dolphins/</a> Using DNA profiling, DOC are working with researchers to try and undertake new population estimates. It's early days yet,.. but what they did find was that Maui's may have greater genetic diversity than previsouly thought. Let's hope so!!

Kirstie on "Fishful thinking:fisheries failures and what lies ahead"

Kirstie — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 04:55:57 +0000

Wanted to share a rather brilliant paper by well known fisheries scientists Tony Pitcher and Mimi Lam called Fishful Thinking: Rhetoric, Reality, and the Sea Before Us A wonderful commentry on the history of fishing, the failures we've had and continuing to have and the options for our future. Well worth a read. Here's the abstract: Fisheries science and management have been shrouded in controversy and rhetoric for over 125 yrs. Human reliance on fish through history (and even prehistory) has impacted the sea and its resources. Global impacts are manifest today in threatened food security and vulnerable marine ecosystems. Growing consumer demand and subsidized industrial fisheries exacerbate ecosystem degradation, climate change, global inequities, and local poverty. Ten commonly advocated fisheries management solutions, if implemented alone, cannot remedy a history of intense fishing and serial stock depletions. Fisheries policy strategies evaluated along five performance modalities (ecological, economic, social, ethical, and institutional) suggest that composite management strategies, such as ecosystem-based management and historically based restoration, can do better. A scientifically motivated solution to the fisheries problem can be found in the restorable elements of past ecosystems, if some of our present ideology, practices, and tastes can be relinquished for this historical imperative. Food and social security can be enhanced using a composite strategy that targets traditional food sources and implements customary management practices. Without binding laws, however, instituting such an ethically motivated goal for fisheries policy can easily be compromised by global market pressures. In a restored and productive ecosystem, fishing is clearly the privilege of a few. The realities of imminent global food insecurity, however, may dictate a strategy to deliberately fish down the food web, if the basic human right to food is to be preserved for all. The full paper is viewable at: <a href="http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol15/iss2/art12/" rel="nofollow">http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol15/iss2/art12/</a>

auckland anne on "Protecting Our Migratory Birds"

auckland anne — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 23:46:56 +0000

In an e-newsletter we recieved from Wellington F&B yesterday, mention was made about a recent visit to the Miranda Bird Centre, and discussions about how F&B could work best with the Miranda Trust and Birdlife International to address issues associated with the East Asian-Australasian flyway which is the migratory path for our godwits. . The Miranda shoreline was occupied by wrybills and banded dotterels wintering over from the South Island braided rivers. Concerns for their homes were also discussed given the recent dismembering of Environment Canterbury anhd the apparent agenda to fast-track large-scale irrigation schemes and dams in the Canterbury area. So here are some photos taken at a recent branch trip to Miranda (about an hour and a half drive from Auckland City). It's a lovely area and a great place to visit. Central Auckland branch has both a F&B and a KCC trip organised to visit there later in the year and would welcome anyone interested in joining us. A good opportunity for Aucklanders to see at first hand the birds who need their South Island braided river homes protected.

Kirstie on "Scientists new advice: How to fish with the future in mind"

Kirstie — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 21:35:48 +0000

A new paper published in an American science journal offers some advice to fishers: avoid selective fishing methods and use the whole catch. Leading scientist Dr Zhou says ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM) is broadly practiced as a means of reducing the impact of fishing on marine ecosystems while ensuring sustainable fisheries. Read more here: <a href="http://www.csiro.au/news/Scientists-offer-new-take-on-selective-fishing.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.csiro.au/news/Scientists-offer-new-take-on-selective-fishing.html</a>

Kirstie on "The End of the Line"

Kirstie — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:57:38 +0000

Forest & Bird is proud to be co-hosting the NZ premiere of The End of the Line - the internationally acclaimed film exploring the state of our oceans and fisheries and the positive actions we can take to make things right. If you are in Wellington, come along to the screening tomorrow night - 7:30pm @ the Paramount. Check out the website for more info on the film: endoftheline.com