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Safeguarding sustainable oceans
A framework for managing the environmental effects of activities in New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), is heading into its final stage of development.
“The oceans around New Zealand are a hugely important resource, and we need to prepare for new activities in the EEZ and fill the gaps in controls around environmental effects of activities already operating there,” said Minister for the Environment Trevor Mallard.
The Exclusive Economic Zone is the area of sea and seabed that extends 12–200 nautical
miles offshore.
Legislation is being drafted by the government that brings new mechanisms to monitor and manage environmental effects in the EEZ. This new regime will provide greater certainty for industries operating in marine areas and will help encourage investment in sustainable offshore activities.
The EEZ legislation will focus on the environmental effects of new and previously unregulated activities. Existing laws for fisheries and maritime transport, for example, will continue to operate largely as at present.
Environmental effects of existing activities such as disturbance of the seafloor through mining and petroleum activities will be managed as will the effects of possible future activities such as marine farming, energy generation, carbon capture and storage.
The legislation will set out a new rules and consents regime for the EEZ. The Environment Minister will make decisions on consent applications to carry out activities and the Ministry for the Environment will be responsible for administering the legislation, including developing regulations. An ‘EEZ Commissioner’, housed within the Ministry, will be established to process consent applications, and to manage monitoring and enforcement of the proposed new regime.
The legislation will also contain provisions that enable stakeholders to have input into decisions about activities in the EEZ, including specific processes for Māori engagement.
For more information see: www.mfe.govt.nz/issues/oceans
