Implementing the Fiordland Marine Conservation Strategy

Executive Summary

Introduction

The Fiordland Marine Conservation Strategy

Proposed Management Measures

Options for Implementing the Strategy

Conclusion: The Investigative Group's Preferred Implementation Option

Summary of Findings and Recommendations

Appendix 1: Terms of Reference for the Fiordland Marine Conservation Strategy Investigative Group

Appendix 2: Analysis of the Ability of Current Marine Legislation to Implement the Management Measures in the Strategy

Appendix 3: Fisheries Management

Appendix 4: Values of Special Significance

Appendix 5: Risks to the Marine Environment

Appendix 6: Expressing Kaitiakitanga (Stewardship)

Appendix 7: Information and Monitoring

Appendix 8: Implementing the Strategy

Appendix 9: Compliance and Enforcement

The Fiordland Marine Conservation Strategy

To start their process to improve marine management within the Fiordland marine environment, the Guardians first produced their vision statement. They then developed a list of issues for the area, a set of objectives for their process and a package of proposed measures to meet those objectives. This constitutes the Guardians' Fiordland Marine Conservation Strategy.

Vision

The Guardians' strategy seeks to achieve the following vision, namely:

That the quality of Fiordland's marine environment [The Guardians proposed that the Fiordland marine environment would cover the coast and fiords from the eastern bank of the mouth of the Waiau River in the south to Cascade Point in the north. The seaward boundary was flexible.] and fisheries, including the wider fishery experience, be maintained or improved for future generations to use and enjoy.

Issues

The Guardians believe that the special nature of the Fiordland marine environment is the single most important feature underlying all aspects of their strategy. They describe the set of unique circumstances that come together in Fiordland to create the special habitats and communities that are found there. Briefly, high rainfall creates a darkly stained freshwater surface layer that restricts light into the water column and this inhibits the growth of large seaweed (kelp) that are characteristic of the outer coast. In the absence of this kelp zone, animals that are normally found at depth have colonised the steep fiord walls from the surface to about 40m depth, a phenomenon known as 'deep water emergence'.

The Guardians' initial focus was to develop a comprehensive picture of Fiordland's fisheries and marine environment. From there they identified a number of key issues that needed to be addressed if progress was to be made towards achieving their vision for Fiordland's fisheries and marine environment. The following key issues were identified:

• threats to the sustainability of fish stocks
• the need to protect values of special significance
• human generated environmental risks and threats
• the expression of kaitiakitanga.

Objectives

The Guardians identified key objectives for each of the four issues to provide guidance for them when developing their strategy and to ensure that a consistent approach was maintained through subsequent discussion and consultation. They are:

• Fisheries:
  • ensure the sustainable utilisation of the finite fisheries resources, having regard to the special nature of the fiord environment
  • prevent uncontrolled expansion of effort/harvest by all groups
  • ensure that the rights of tangata whenua, recreational, charter operators, commercial and other user groups are identified and recognised and that these groups are involved in fisheries management decisions including access to the fisheries resource
  • support overarching fisheries management frameworks
  • fit management of fisheries to an appropriate spatial scale
  • encourage harvesting to take place at the entrances and outer coast
  • encourage voluntary compliance with the rules and reinforce the view that non-compliance is unacceptable behaviour
  • adopt a cautious and responsible approach to proposals for new developments, including fisheries developments.
• Values of special significance:
  • ensure the ongoing integrity of areas, habitats and communities of special significance within Fiordland's marine environment.
• Risks to the marine environment:
  • avoid where possible, remedy, or mitigate the adverse impacts of human activities on fisheries and the marine environment.
• Expressing kaitiakitanga:
  • ensure that kaitiakitanga (stewardship) be appropriately expressed for Fiordland's fisheries and marine environment.

The Guardians also proposed four further objectives focused on how their strategy might successfully be implemented. These were also considered and accepted by the Investigative Group. They are:

• Information:
  • ensure there is a proactive approach to identifying and advocating research and information needs, to obtain the necessary information for advancing the strategy's objectives.
• Implementing the strategy:
  • implement the package of management measures (gifts and gains) proposed in the strategy as a whole, without compromising underlying principles and balances.
• Compliance:
  • encourage voluntary compliance with the rules and reinforce the view that non-compliance is unacceptable behaviour.
• Monitoring the performance of the strategy:
  • evaluate whether the package of management measures is achieving the objectives of the strategy.

Area of application of the strategy

The Guardians proposed that the Fiordland marine environment would cover the coast and fiords from the eastern bank of the mouth of the Waiau River in the south to Cascade Point in the north. The seaward boundary was not specified. [Please refer to page 14 for further discussion]