Monitoring
A baseline survey was carried out in July 2000 (including control sites outside the reserve). This was followed up with a second sampling in September 2002.
Differences between reserve and control treatments were recorded during the second study. These were:
-
Seal at Flea Bay
blue cod greater than 30 cm were present at four of the five reserve sites but not at the control sites;
- the mean size of blue cod was greater from within the reserve compared to the control group;
- kina were more abundant from within the control treatment than the reserve group;
- kina abundance increased within the reserve between the two sample events
Plans to repeat biological monitoring in Pōhatu are currently underway.