Marine Reserves
Words and photos by Miro Kennett.
Since I was little, I have always cared about the ocean and been interested in marine life.
Growing up, I would explore rock pools, go snorkelling, do school science projects about the impacts of marine heatwaves and collect shells. Now that I’m older, my passion continues and I have become more aware of the challenges the marine environment faces. I have started to think more deeply about marine reserves, their impacts, and how important it is that we create more marine reserves around NZ to preserve our incredibly special moana. So, I decided to research the impacts of marine reserves on marine life and the communities around them to see why marine protection is so important.
Positive Impacts.
Marine reserves have positive impacts on marine life in and outside of their boundaries. Benefits of Marine Protected Areas, published by Environment Guide NZ (2018), found that “where extractive activities are prohibited, abundance of previously exploited marine species in marine reserves can increase dramatically,” and this has been shown to happen in a relatively short time period. They also stated that “an increase in the abundance of previously fished species can have a positive flow-on effect, through rebalancing predator-prey relationships, and overall the food web.” An example of this is the important role of tāmure / snapper and kōura / rock lobster in Te Hāwere-a-Maki / Cape Rodney-Okakari Point (CROP) marine reserve. The increased presence of these keystone species was linked to a decrease in kina (their prey), and an increase in kelp regeneration (the kina’s main food source). “This, in turn, is thought to have increased productivity and diversity within the marine reserve,” they said, because kelp is a major primary producer and kelp forests are “central to ecosystem function and diversity.” This evidence clearly shows that marine reserves such as Te Hāwere-a-Maki /Goat Island marine reserve can replenish ecosystems and the food webs within them, by allowing previously fished species to recover.
“kelp is an essential factor in combating climate change [and] produces 70-80% of the oxygen in the atmosphere we breathe.”
The importance of kelp forests.
The regeneration of kelp forests is also incredibly important to humans. Not only is kelp an essential factor in combating climate change (marine algae absorbs massive amounts of carbon dioxide) but kelp forests produce 70-80% of the oxygen in the atmosphere we breathe. A study by Halpern of UC Santa Barbara in 2003 that combined data from 89 studies, found that “population densities, biomass, diversity and size of fish were generally considerably higher inside marine reserves than outside.” This shows a positive impact of marine reserves on the abundance of marine life. Once an area is protected it means that overly exploited species can now recover within the safe haven of the reserve, and grow significantly in number. These two sources both show that marine reserves have a positive impact on marine life because they have been shown to restore ecosystems and increase populations of exploited species which can then overflow into surrounding areas.
Are we doing enough?
It is clear that marine reserves have massive positive impacts on not just the life within them, but also the local communities around them. Aotearoa has 44 marine reserves (which may sound like a lot) but, only 0.48 percent of our ocean is protected, compared to one third of our land mass being protected. This is vastly disproportionate, especially since we rely on the wellbeing of the moana for oxygen, food and industry. New Marine Protected Areas have now been announced for the Hauraki Gulf, including 2 marine reserves (extending the CROP marine reserve and Te Whanganui-o-Hei/Cathedral Cove marine reserve), 12 high protection areas, and 5 seafloor protection areas. This will allow these protected areas to begin recovering, and almost triple the marine protection in the Gulf from 6% to 18%. The high protection areas will prohibit the dumping of waste, removal of non-living materials, and commercial and recreational fishing, while allowing customary fishing to continue if authorised by Tangata Kaitiaki. However, recent amendments to the bill by the Government in October 2024 will now also allow limited ring-net fishing. Hauraki Gulf Forum co-chair, Nicola MacDonald said, “In the forum’s submission on the bill, we were explicit that commercial activity must not be allowed in high-protection areas. To do so undermines the integrity of the bill and the principles of marine protection, restoration and conservation.” The Forum has also stated that these controversial amendments “threaten to set back our protection and restoration efforts by decades”.
The vast amount of ocean that is not protected is being destroyed by overfishing, mining, and other forms of exploitation. We pride ourselves in NZ as being “clean and green”, and having beautiful forests, mountains and oceans filled with amazing wildlife. And yet, we allow our oceans to be stripped of their underwater forests and vibrant sea life. As the research above has shown, where there is a marine reserve, the species who were once overfished and dying out are allowed to recover, which has flow on effects to restoring whole ecosystems, overflow into adjacent areas that can be fished by locals, benefits to local businesses and economy, more education and scientific benefits, and much more. The creation of more marine reserves around NZ would create more safe-havens for marine life and increase the positive impacts that have been demonstrated by existing reserves. It would also mean that people wanting to visit a marine reserve for its beach, rockpools or underwater world, could be more spread out, rather than squeezed onto small beaches like the one at CROP marine reserve where it can put pressure on the ecosystems and local communities. More marine reserves in NZ would also mean more overflow of fish for recreational and commercial fishers, more job opportunities, and more educational opportunities.
I believe that many more marine reserves need to be established around NZ’s coast. This would create more vibrant oceans with thriving ecosystems, balanced food chains and overflow effects, and more vibrant communities with more marine education, jobs, tourism and ocean awareness for a brighter future for us and our oceans.
About the Author
Miro Kennett is a 17yr old underwater photographer and marine life enthusiast. She volunteers at her local aquarium, Island Bay Marine Education Centre, where she educates visitors about Aotearoa’s underwater world. She also freedives regularly at her local marine reserve, Taputeranga marine reserve, where she studies the plants and animals with her camera. Follow her adventures HERE.