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Marine & coastal

Fiordland's marine reserves

In this section:

Facts
- Fiordland marine reserves A-Z
- The 40m band

See also:

Fiordland Marine Conservation Strategy on Ministry for the Environment website

Ministry of Fisheries website

Fiordland's 10 marine reserves are found from Milford Sound in the north to Preservation Inlet in the south. They range in size from 93 to 3,672 hectares, and in total include over 10,000 hectares of inner fiord marine habitat.

The reserves border the Fiordland National Park and are a fantastic example of natural environments protected from the peaks of mountains to great depths of the fiords.

Click a marine reserve below to view detailed information about it.

Regional map

Hawea (Clio Rocks) Marine Reserve

Hawea (Clio Rocks) Marine Reserve, part of Fiordland's network of reserves, covers 411hectares of marine habitat. The near-vertical rock walls of 'Turn Round Point' are a special feature of the reserve.

Kahukura (Gold Arm) Marine Reserve

Part of Fiordland's network of marine reserves, Kahukura (Gold Arm) Marine Reserve at Charles Sound covers an area of about 464-hectares. Providing a number of important marine habitats, red and black corals are also abundant here.

Kutu Parera (Gaer Arm) Marine Reserve

Fiordland's 433 hectare Kutu Parera Marine Reserve is located at Gaer Arm in Bradshaw Sound. A number of marine habitats are found here, including estuarine habitat at the entrance of the Camelot River.

Moana Uta (Wet Jacket Arm) Marine Reserve

Fiordland's Moana Uta Marine Reserve at Wet Jacket Arm, spans from the head of the sound to Entry Island. The 2007 hectare reserve features the highest known density of black coral in the fiords.

Piopiotahi (Milford Sound) Marine Reserve

Piopiotahi (Milford Sound) Marine Reserve in Fiordland encompasses 690-hectares of marine habitat.

Taipari Roa (Elizabeth Island) Marine Reserve

Fiordland's Taipari Roa (Elizabeth Island) Marine Reserve covers an area of about 613 hectares in inner Doubtful Sound. The reserve is home to unique bright yellow glass sponges.

Taumoana (Five Fingers Peninsula) Marine Reserve

Taumoana Marine Reserve is situated next to Five Fingers Peninsula at the entrance of Dusky Sound. The reserve contains some of the only wave exposed rocky reef habitat that is protected in Fiordland.

Te Awaatu Channel (The Gut) Marine Reserve

At 93 hectares, Te Awaatu Channel Marine Reserve is the smallest marine reserve in Fiordland.

Te Hapua (Sutherland Sound) Marine Reserve

Te Hapua Marine Reserve is possibly the least studied and the least visited marine reserve in the Fiordland network.

Te Tapuwae o Hua (Long Sound) Marine Reserve

At 3672 hectares, Te Tapuwae o Hua (Long Island) Marine Reserve is the largest reserve in Fiordland.

Piopiotahi (Milford Sound)

Piopiotahi (Milford Sound) Marine Reserve in Fiordland encompasses 690-hectares of marine habitat.

Te Hapua (Sutherland Sound)

Te Hapua Marine Reserve is possibly the least studied and the least visited marine reserve in the Fiordland network.

Hawea (Clio Rocks)

Hawea (Clio Rocks) Marine Reserve, part of Fiordland's network of reserves, covers 411hectares of marine habitat. The near-vertical rock walls of 'Turn Round Point' are a special feature of the reserve.

Kahukura (Gold Arm)

Part of Fiordland's network of marine reserves, Kahukura (Gold Arm) Marine Reserve at Charles Sound covers an area of about 464-hectares. Providing a number of important marine habitats, red and black corals are also abundant here.

Te Awaatu Channel (The Gut)

At 93 hectares, Te Awaatu Channel Marine Reserve is the smallest marine reserve in Fiordland.

Kutu Parera (Gaer Arm)

Fiordland's 433 hectare Kutu Parera Marine Reserve is located at Gaer Arm in Bradshaw Sound. A number of marine habitats are found here, including estuarine habitat at the entrance of the Camelot River.

Taipari Roa (Elizabeth Island)

Fiordland's Taipari Roa (Elizabeth Island) Marine Reserve covers an area of about 613 hectares in inner Doubtful Sound. The reserve is home to unique bright yellow glass sponges.

Moana Uta (Wet Jacket Arm)

Fiordland's Moana Uta Marine Reserve at Wet Jacket Arm, spans from the head of the sound to Entry Island. The 2007 hectare reserve features the highest known density of black coral in the fiords.

Taumoana (Five Fingers Peninsula)

Taumoana Marine Reserve is situated next to Five Fingers Peninsula at the entrance of Dusky Sound. The reserve contains some of the only wave exposed rocky reef habitat that is protected in Fiordland.

Te Tapuwae o Hua (Long Sound)

At 3672 hectares, Te Tapuwae o Hua (Long Island) Marine Reserve is the largest reserve in Fiordland.

Find out more

Publications

Video clip about Piopiotahi (Milford Sound) from Protecting our seas DVD
Marine mammal (and other wildlife) Code of Management - Doubtful Sound bottlenose dolphins

Review of the Marine Reserves Act 1971

Maps

Fiordland marine reserves booklet

Learn more

Fiords - Te Ara Encyclopedia of NZ

Fiordland Marine Guardians website

Contacts

More information on these marine reserves in Fiordland is available from:

Te Anau Area Office
Phone:	+64 3 249 0200

Email:
Full office details

Southland Conservancy Office
Phone:	+64 3 211 2400

Email:
Full office details