Date:  09 April 2020 Source:  Department of Conservation and Fisheries New Zealand

Both agencies recognise the lockdown under alert level 4 may limit people’s ability to effectively participate in the two-month consultation process, which was due to end on 17 April.

The proposed network includes six marine reserves, where marine life would be fully protected and fishing banned, five marine protected areas, which would impose a range of restrictions to fishing, and one kelp protection area where commercial harvest of bladder kelp would be prohibited. There is currently no marine protection in this area.

DOC Planning Director Natasha Hayward says consultation will be postponed from today with a view to restarting it once COVID-19 restrictions have eased.

“Unfortunately, with the disruptions to people’s lives and work under the lockdown, and restrictions on accessing the consultation document at libraries and DOC offices, people may not be able to participate in the consultation process as they wish.”

“It’s important that everyone has an opportunity to have their say on the proposed marine protection network, which is why we’re postponing the consultation process for the time being,” says Natasha Hayward.

A decision to restart public consultation will be made once COVID-19 restrictions had been eased, says Fisheries New Zealand’s Director Fisheries Management, Marianne Lukkien.

“We want to thank all those who have already made a submission on the proposed marine protected areas. We appreciate the time and effort you’ve put in to give feedback on these proposed marine protection measures.

“Please be reassured that your submissions will be saved and can be used once consultation is reinstated, if that is your wish,” says Marianne Lukkien.

All completed submissions and those still in progress through the Public Voice online submission portal will be saved, as will submissions received via email or post.

DOC and Fisheries New Zealand will continue to consult with their Treaty partner Ngāi Tahu about the proposed marine protected area network over coming months using communication methods that comply with social distancing requirements.

DOC and Fisheries New Zealand will inform people as to when consultation on the proposed marine protected areas will recommence.

The priority of DOC and Fisheries New Zealand is supporting New Zealand in stopping the spread of COVID-19 and saving lives.

Background information

DOC and Fisheries New Zealand started the two-month public consultation on the proposed network of marine protected areas (MPAs) on 17 February 2020.

This followed the announcement last year by the Ministers of Fisheries and Conservation of their intention to consult on the proposed network, which is one of two options put forward by the South-East Marine Protection Forum in 2018 for marine protection for the region.

Agencies were progressing:

• proposed marine reserves through the Marine Reserves Act 1971; and
• proposed Type 2 MPAs as regulations under the Fisheries Act 1996.

Once consultation is complete, the submissions will inform the Minister of Fisheries’ and Minister of Conservation’s final decisions on the marine protection proposals.

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