Five new marine reserves, including the two largest in mainland New Zealand, are to be established on the South Island''s West Coast.
The new reserves are Kahurangi (8466ha), Punakaiki (3558ha), Okarito (4641ha), Gorge (847ha) and a small educational site at Ship Creek near Haast (16ha), totalling 17,528ha combined.
Kahurangi and Okarito will become the two largest marine reserves on New Zealand's mainland coast.
An additional 9557ha of ocean adjoining the Punakaiki and Gorge marine reserves will be granted protection from bottom trawling, dredging and Danish seining under the Fisheries Act.
Fisheries Minister Phil Heatley said the results achieved highlighted the benefits of conservation and fishing interests working together to assess the merits of marine protection.
"The West Coast has a strong fishing industry, with crayfish and finfish of particular importance to the local economy.
"It's great to see both commercial and recreational fishers working to achieve pragmatic options for marine protection. We have been careful to strike a balance that wouldn't unfairly disadvantage their interests and I'm confident we've got it right."
The Ministry of Fisheries and DOC will now start the statutory processes required to establish the marine reserves and put the Fisheries Act regulations in place.
