Guardians of
Fiordland's Fisheries and Marine Environment
In
April 2005 the Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) Marine Management Act passed
Parliament. The Act was the culmination of a 10-year effort led by the
Guardians of Fiordland's Fisheries and Marine Environment Inc.- a Fiordland and
Southland-based community volunteer group comprised of recreational and
commercial fishers, scientists, the local iwi Ngâi Tahu, environmentalists and
tourist operators - that recognised the need for the community to take the lead
in developing an effective management strategy for this matchless marine area.
For their efforts the Guardians received a Southland Environment Award and a
Minister for the Environment Green Ribbon Award.
The Act
officially recognises Fiordland’s marine environment as a site of local,
national and international importance; creates the Fiordland (Te Moana o
Atawhenua) Marine Area, encompassing 882,000 ha including Milford and Doubtful
Sounds; creates eight new marine reserves, totalling about 9520 ha; provides
legislative recognition of the new Ministerially-appointed, but community-based
advisory committee - the Fiordland Marine Guardians; and provides for the more
effective and integrated management of all the Fiordland marine areas, including
those of special significance - the "china shops” - that were identified by the
Guardians.
The Government has committed $3.4 million over four years to implement
the Act, including support of the new Fiordland Marine Guardians. The Guardians
intend to play a key role in the future of this globally significant area. The
government agencies collaborating to deliver the improved management are: the
Ministry for the Environment (leading co-ordination); the Ministry of Fisheries
(leading compliance and enforcement); the Department of Conservation (leading
environmental monitoring); MAF Biosecurity (leading marine biosecurity
planning); and Environment Southland (leading communications and education).
For more information:
www.mfe.govt.nz/issues/biodiversity/fiordland
www.teachingonline.org/fiordlandcopymaster.pdf
www.teachingonline.org/guardianangels.pdf
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2 - 9 March 2008
