By the end of May public submissions are expected to be called for a suite of marine protection measures on the West Coast. It is particularly significant because currently the West Coast has no marine reserves.
Initial investigations suggest these areas need to be expanded to be viable. If the outcome is successful, the areas could be gazetted by the end of the year and the MPA programme continued across the country.
Go to www.westmarine.org.nz to read the proposal, view maps and read a scientific report on West Coast marine
sites on the West Coast.
Contact Dean Baigent-Mercer in Forest & Bird's Christchurch office for more information.