Protected marine species include all marine mammals and reptiles; sea birds (except black-backed gulls); seven species of fish; all black corals, gorgonian corals, stony corals and hydrocorals. These species face a range of threats such as climate change, sedimentation, disease, pollution and bycatch in commercial and recreational fisheries.

Learn more about New Zealand's marine biodiversity, our marine protected areas and how we manage this precious ecosystem below.