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The protected areas could also support abundant fish stocks for commercial and recreational fishers, alongside the proposed fisheries management measures. The spillover of fish larvae from marine reserves has shown the potential for contributing to fisheries sustainability and enhancement. For example, it is estimated adult snapper at Leigh marine reserve contributed 10.6% of newly settled juveniles to the surrounding 400sqkm area.
Department of Conservation
Warkworth Gamefishing Club is meeting this week to discuss concerns about the large areas in Kawau Bay and around Titirtiri Matangi that will be closed to fishing under proposals that are currently out for consultation.
The club is one of many fishing groups preparing to make a submission on the marine protection proposals developed from Revitalising the Gulf, the Government’s response to the Hauraki Gulf Marine Spatial Plan.
The strategy is proposing the establishment of 19 new protected zones including the addition of the Noises, increasing the area under protection from just over six per cent to about 18 per cent. This is in response to the deteriorating health of the gulf due to human activities.
The marine protection proposals include 12 High Protection Areas (HPAs), five Seafloor Protection Areas and two protected areas adjacent to Cape Rodney-Okakari Point and Cathedral Cove/Whanganui-a-Hei marine reserves.
A large area of Kawau Bay would be covered by seafloor protection, and an area between Kawau Island and Mahurangi East Peninsula would be a HPA, banning all commercial and recreational fishing in the area.
Overall, the protection measures would result in an estimated 5.7% of recreational boat fishing for snapper being displaced, or 1.6% in Kawau Bay specifically.
Consultation on the proposals closes on October 28.
The Gamefishing Club can be contacted on 021 644 686 (Terry Creagh).
