Five new marine reserves are to open along the Otago and South Canterbury coast on 1 July, 1News reports. Together they cover more than 300 square kilometres between the Waitaki River and Milton, and will be the country’s first new marine reserves in over a decade.
The reserves are no-take zones, banning all fishing, harvesting and mineral extraction, and will nearly double New Zealand’s marine area under the highest level of protection. They will safeguard coastal reefs, marine mammals and species such as the endangered hoiho, or yellow-eyed penguin.
In a first, the reserves will be co-managed by Ngāi Tahu and the Department of Conservation, sharing decision-making and joint ranger teams. The network has been named Te Au Roa o Te Rakihouia, after the first person to journey down the east coast in Ngāi Tahu tradition.
Source: 1News