A groundbreaking fishing industry initiative will see some of New Zealand’s most significant and exciting underwater habitats protected from bottom-trawling and dredging, Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton recently announced.
“Many of our most striking and fascinating underwater features will be protected, including cold water corals, seamounts and hydrothermal vents, each of which are specifically noted by the United Nations as vulnerable ecosystems," he said.
The Benthic (seabed habitat) Protected Areas initiative will cover 17 different areas and protect the seabed habitat of 30% of New Zealand's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) – 1.25 million square kilometres (equivalent to four times New Zealand's landmass).
Together with the 19 existing seamount closures (closed in 2000), the Benthic Protected Areas will protect 88% of all known active hydrothermal vents, 52% of all known seamounts, and 32% of the EEZ.
“The Government is acting now, by closing the areas under regulation, to provide immediate protection based on information currently available. In one action, New Zealand will protect 30% of its seabed. It took many decades to achieve the equivalent amount of protection on land," Jim Anderton said. “These areas are being set aside to protect our seabed environment. They are not fisheries management tools and are not designed to protect the entire marine ecosystem. The Government will continue to manage fisheries by setting catch limits and other rules."
“This is also consistent with last year's UN General Assembly resolution that called upon states to take action to “protect vulnerable marine ecosystems, including seamounts, hydrothermal vents and cold water corals, from destructive fishing practices.”
In February 2006 the fishing industry took a proposal to the Government, suggesting that 30% of New Zealand's EEZ be closed to bottom trawling and dredging.
"We have since consulted with stakeholders, made a series of amendments and added extra areas based on public submissions. These refinements have improved the plan. In addition to the new areas, the Marine Protected Area (MPA) process will continue, with further closures in the future if required. Industry will still continue to pay their share for research, and the current seamount closures – in which no trawling or dredging is permitted – will remain.”
“As parts of some of the areas have been fished, these measures will not only protect pristine habitat, but also allow areas that have been disturbed to return to their natural state.
“As well, this initiative allows for research to further our understanding of the seabed and its ecosystems and biodiversity, and focuses attention on inshore areas where natural values are higher and the risks greatest. All together, this is an impressive starting point for marine protection in the EEZ and I congratulate the industry for their responsible attitude to this issue," Jim Anderton said.
