DOC reminder not to fish in marine reserves
Date: 03 January 2008
The Department of Conservation is reminding holidaymakers fishing in Tasman Bay and Queen Charlotte Sound to make sure they don't fish in marine reserves.
There are two marine reserves in Tasman Bay - Tonga Island, off the coast of the Abel Tasman National Park, and Horoirangi, between the Boulder Bank and Cable Bay north-east of Nelson city. In outer Queen Charlotte Sound, Long Island-Kokomohua Marine Reserve surrounds Long Island.
Department of Conservation Motueka Area biodiversity programme manager Gavin Udy said anyone going fishing in these areas should make sure they know exactly where the marine reserves are.
"Too often over the summer holidays we catch people fishing inside marine reserves that are visitors to the area who hadn't checked out where the marine reserves are. Just as people need to be aware of fishing and boating regulations, they should make sure they find out where marine reserve boundaries are and not fish inside these protected marine areas. Information is available from DOC offices or visitor centres or on this website.
"This summer information cards are being handed out to boaties at Kaiteriteri boat ramp and distributed at campgrounds and other places that show where the Tasman Bay marine reserves are. We especially want to inform people going out on boats along the Abel Tasman coastline where Tonga Island Marine Reserve is so they don't fish inside it.
"Boaties should look out for yellow markers on land and yellow buoys at sea with the words 'marine reserve' on them that indicate the boundaries of the two Tasman Bay marine reserves and make sure they don't fish inside the reserve boundaries.
"There is no excuse for fishing inside marine reserves. Fishing and taking marine life in marine reserves is illegal and people caught doing so can be prosecuted. There are penalties of up to three months' imprisonment and fines of up to $10,000 for recreational fishing in marine reserves.
"Visits to marine reserves for recreational activities such as swimming, diving, snorkelling, kayaking and boating are encouraged but we ask the public to respect and protect these sea sanctuaries by not taking or disturbing marine life. Marine reserves are valuable for increasing our knowledge of marine ecology and this enables better management of the marine environment in everybody's interests."