The Green Room
Finally – a decent piece of work that recognises the land based of effects of activities on our marine environments, biodiversity and economic interests:
We look forward to seeing the Ministry of Fisheries applying a more ecosystem based approach to fisheries management from now on then…..?
The summary of all the negative impacts from sediment flow into coastal waters is frightening. Also the destruction of bryozoan beds that are nurserys for many juvenile fin fish is a tragedy. The review does point out that this destruction is occuring because firstly sediment is covering up the bryozoan beds and secondly because dredge fisheries are destroying the beds and moving sediment/sand is all that survives once the dredging is complete.
The study relied on a few benchmark places where there is no motorised dredging(eg Separation Point, Golden Bay) and other places where there is little sediment imput.
It provides powerful ammunition supporting the establishment of more representative "no take marine reserves" that can be used in benchmarks for studies such as this review. Ironically, the least modified terrestrial environment in NZ is on the West Coast of the South Island and yet the proposed marine reserve network is pathetically small. The current round of public meetings are to gauge public opinion on the proposed West Coast Marine Protected Areas. Where we live, there is a laughable 500 metre long "education reserve" at Ship Creek 15km south of us(and another tiny education reserve at Jackson Head). Then it is another 100km south of us to the Gorge River before you encounter a proposed marine reserve. It is not until you get 140km north of us to Okarito before there is another proposed reserve. So in a distance of 240km-nearly the length of the whole of the Canterbury province-there is no proposed marine reserve. Yet the seacoast here is stunning. It is rich in marine life both in terms of invertebrates with mussel reefs, kina, paua and rock lobster and in terms of fin fish. You'd think in a distance of 240 km between Okarito and the Gorge River it might surely be possible to find say 10%, 24 km, or even 5% 12 km that could be excluded from fishing and be set aside as a marine reserve?
Will look forward to your submission then Gerry :) :)
On the land-based effects issue though, .....
Guess which fishery is currently applying for Marine Stewardship Council certification? (ie. super green sustinable fishery certification)
Our wonderful Challenger Scallop dredge fishery - based in Golden Bay, as trashed Tasman Bay and not recovering.
http://www.msc.org/track-a-fishery/in-assessment/pacific/NZ_southern_scallop
Should give the assessment team this report to read - not that they should need it for goodness sake.
No fears though we have Forest & Bird's local branch on the case and we're doing our bit to support from this end -few other dodgy fisheries going for certification too.
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