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The petition was launched at Omaha last month by Mary Coupe and MP Chris Penk.
A group of Omaha residents fear continued plundering of marine creatures from beach rock pools will render the rocks devoid of sealife.
Resident Mary Coupe has gathered neighbours together to launch a petition to Parliament, formally asking the Government to reduce the number of several identified species that an individual can take.
“We want to make sure that when we take future generations of tots down to the rock pools, we can show them shrimp, oysters and rock crabs,” Mary says.
She says on a sunny weekend she has seen up to 70 visitors harvesting whatever they can find from the rock pools at Omaha.
Mary has seen them use tools, including piano wire, to strip the rocks of shellfish such as periwinkles and limpets.
She says those plundering often take away large buckets filled with all manner of sea creatures.
Resident Jill Rowdon says she has seen visitors use “tickler sticks” to prod octopuses, which then clasp the stick and are easily speared.
Another resident says plunderers even take starfish.
“They put them on a kebab, and I’ve heard they taste like kina when they are opened and cooked,” the resident said.
Residents first discussed seeking enforcement of existing law, but were shocked to discover the large volumes of sea creatures being taken from pools may be within generous legal limits.
Residents Stuart and Sandy Grant think the legal allowance of 250 oysters per person each day is far too many, especially if a family of four collects 1000 oysters.
They say they have seen people setting up tents at the beach for overnight stays while harvesting over multiple days.
In the Auckland and Northland regions, each individual is allowed a combined take of 50 crabs, limpets, starfish, periwinkles, cats eyes and sea cucumbers.
“What we each take as individuals adds up quickly,” Mary says.
“Look and feast with your eyes, and leave well enough alone so that ecosystems can do their glorious thing.”
Former marine biologist Alysn Midgelow-Marsden has joined the cause and is hoping to work with the Auckland University Institute of Marine Science to understand how sustainable current take limits are.
Alysn lives in Tawharanui where the marine reserve prohibits taking sealife. She says she doesn’t understand how plundering can be allowed to occur directly around the corner at Omaha.
“It’s evident how marine reserves benefit the whole ecosystem by allowing protected sealife to spread out into the ocean.”
The petition is open for signatures on the petitions page of the Parliament website.
It will close in March 2021, and will then be presented to a select committee by Kaipara ki Mahurangi MP Chris Penk.
Sign the petition: https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/petitions/document/PET_104031/petition-of-mary-coupe-protect-rock-pool-sea-life-for
