Marine habitat mapping
View the report and maps:
A significant step forward in preparing for Marine Protected Area (MPA) planning in Northland has been made with the completion of the first full coverage habitat map of the a large part of Northland's coastal waters.
Aerial photo
The maps cover an area of 1.34 million hectares extending out 12 nautical miles from the coast between Ahipara in the west to Mangawhai on the east coast.
The photo on the right gives an example of the special-purpose aerial photography used for mapping habitats in the shallow zone. Location: Maitai Bay, Cape Karikari, Northland.
Rocky reefs make up 14.3% of the mapped area, indicating the presence of a significant array of these habitats. Estuarine areas make up 3.3% of the mapping area and include internationally significant tidal flats, Zostera capricorni seagrass beds and the Avicennia marina mangrove areas of Parengarenga and Rangaunu Harbours.
Habitat map that resulted from the use
of aerial photos, Maitai Bay
The use of the habitat maps to identify potential locations for a network of marine protected areas in Northland is discussed and recommendations are made to incorporate this information within decision support tools to assist in planning, education and community engagement.
The habitat maps, underlying data and techniques developed also provide a valuable resource for other research and management projects in Northland and elsewhere.
back to top