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Marine Conservation in New Zealand: Mangrove Forests & Maui’s Dolphins

Explore the diverse marine environment of New Zealand, from the challenges faced by mangrove forests to the conservation efforts for Maui’s dolphins. Learn about the critical state of these unique ecosystems and the threats they face, along with the management and conservation measures in place. Discover how communities and organizations are working together to protect these iconic species and their habitats.

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Marine Conservation in New Zealand: Mangrove Forests & Maui’s Dolphins

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  1. Marine Conservation in NZ: Mangrove Forests & Maui’s Dolphins Deborah Robertson 28th July 2014

  2. Contents • New Zealand • Marine environment • Marine conservation • Mangrove forests • Maui’s dolphins

  3. New Zealand / Aotearoa

  4. New Zealand marine environment • 5th largest in the world • 15,000 known species • Estimates of 65,000 species • 80% of our biodiversity is in sea, only 1% surveyed

  5. Management and conservation • New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement • Resource Management Act 1991 • Policy statements and plans – objectives, policies, rules • Resource consents (EIAs, public consultation, hearings) • Fisheries Act • Reserves Acts for land and sea • EEZ and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Act • Marine Mammals Protection Act • Lots of NGOs, community groups, public education, & EnviroSchools

  6. Mangrove forests

  7. Mangrove forests • Most southern mangrove growing country • One species - Avicennia marina. • In NZ for 19m yrs • Extensive forests top half of North Island • Have faced many challenges: roads formed causing silt build up, smothering pneumatophores; rubbish dumps; land reclamation; drainage; grazing

  8. Mangrove forests

  9. Mangrove forests • Spread since 1930s, definitely since 1970s • Why? • Build up of sediments and rising of inter-tidal flats • Sediments flow to estuary from catchment, following native forest clearance and land development • Changes to water movements • Increased nutrients from farmland

  10. Mangrove forests • They are protected. They can’t be removed or interfered with. • Wide range of views: positive and negative (loss of beach and open water is an issue) • Communities and groups can apply for consent to manage local areas (e.g. removing, pruning, plucking seeds from ground

  11. Maui’s dolphin • The world’s smallest and rarest • West coast of North Island • Critically endangered • In 2012, only 55 aged more than 1 yr • Isolated from Hector’s dolphin

  12. Maui’s dolphin • Often found close to shore in pods • Grey, white and black markings and well-rounded dorsal fin • Females 1.7m long & 50kgs • Population increase is sloooow • Lifespan 20 yrs • Feed on a variety of fish species • Use echolocation

  13. Threats • Fishing – bycatch in set nets, drift nets & trawls • Pollution from coast • Boat strikes • Construction - displacement • Seabed mining / exploration – displacement, noise, spills, loss of fish and benthic food • Tourism – dolphin watching

  14. Conservation • Marine Mammal Sanctuary and TMP • Set net ban 0 – 2 nm • Set net ban 2 – 7 nm unless observer onboard • Monitoring of trawl fisheries • Seismic surveying code of conduct • Boat racing code of conduct • But…

  15. Maui’s dolphin • We need to do more to save them – protection is very slow • Supported by international organisations • Government is opening up marine sanctuary for oil exploration • Lots of public opposition

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