Summary
Read an analysis of the options to create marine reserves in the territorial sea around three of New Zealand's subantarctic island groups. For two of these island groups it is proposed to prohibit Danish seining in the parts of their territorial seas that will not be covered by the proposed marine reserves.
The New Zealand Subantarctic Islands and their territorial seas have been internationally recognised for their outstanding conservation values by being awarded World Heritage status in 1998.
The marine reserves and prohibitions on Danish seining, combined with existing Fisheries Act prohibitions on bottom trawling and dredging under the Fisheries (Benthic Protection Areas) Regulations 2007, will provide for marine protected areas over the entire area of the territorial sea of the New Zealand Subantarctic Islands in accordance with the Marine Protected Areas policy.