Summer brings fresh concerns over Northland’s vulnerable marine environment

The Poor Knights Islands make up a marine reserve and therefore protected from fishing. The Department of Conservation and MPI monitor compliance. Photo / Yukon Dive.

Increased visitors to the north over summer means a higher chance of offending in marine protected areas, environment watchdogs say.

Recently a commercial fishing vessel was caught operating in a marine protected area and served an abatement notice by the Northland Regional Council.

It was the first use of a notice in a new crackdown on rule-breakers.

The council approached hundreds of vessels beforehand to educate operators about the rules.

The Department of Conservation (DoC) is taking a similar approach to deal with non-compliance in marine reserves.

It agrees some offending may still be going undetected.

DoC oversees the protection of Whangārei Harbour marine reserves and the Poor Knights.

Information obtained by the Advocate shows that in the last four years, patrols pre-planned by DoC detected six offences, resulting in 12 enforcement actions including infringements.

It was much fewer than the 59 reports received from the public about fishing in marine reserves, seven of which were in the Poor Knights.

Fourteen reports resulted in warning letters and infringement fines, and six were too late to intercept.

DoC marine reserves programme lead Gabrielle Goodin said there were various reasons why people offend.

“At times it may be ignorance of the rules, sometimes it may be greed.

“However, ignorance is no excuse - it is a fisher or gatherer’s responsibility to know and abide by the rules.”

But why so many reports of rule-breaking but so few enforcement actions?

Goodin said offenders were unlikely to offend while its staff were there.

The chance of catching an alleged offender was higher because warranted officers were already nearby, she said.

However, it was common for offenders to have left a scene before staff are able to get there because of travel times.

“It takes time for warranted officers to divert to a response. They often have to either drive considerable distances or prepare and launch vessels.”

DoC marine rangers patrol Whangārei marine reserves such as at Reotahi which the department says deters non-compliance. Photo / John Stone

Goodin some of DoC’s most important work was in education, advocacy, and prevention.

“We see this as the fence at the top of the cliff as opposed to the ambulance at the bottom - these are important tools to protect marine life and prevent illegal fishing.”

Goodin acknowledged policing marine reserves effectively was difficult as DoC does not have unlimited resources.

Assorted anemones, starfish and gorgonians , pink maomao and a splendid perch at the Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve. Photo / Yukon Dive

Police and Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) fishery officers can provide extra aid where required and CCTV overlooking some reserves was helpful, she said.

The department was equally reliant on public reporting of suspicious activity.

“We cannot be everywhere at once and appreciate that so many New Zealanders are willing to help.”

The Northland Regional Council’s marine protected areas were established in 2022 and so far, the council has contracted two vessels to patrol both areas.

Chairman Geoff Crawford said the council aimed to have patrols on the water for at least eight weeks of the year in each protected area, especially during summer and on weekends.

Most people approached during the education phase of the no-take areas were unaware of the new rules, he said.

Crawford said surveillance patrols were working so far.

However, when questioned about the case of the commercial vessel earlier this year which was initially reported by a chance sighting and not surveillance, he said it was important breaches were reported so prevention and enforcement could be targeted.

Northland Regional Council chairman Geoff Crawford. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Crawford said official surveillance was important to reassure the public that marine protection was being taken seriously.

No-take rules were the most effective tool for helping marine ecosystems to recover, he said.

Brodie Stone is an education and general news reporter at the Advocate. Brodie has spent most of her life in Whangārei and is passionate about delving into issues that matter to Northlanders and beyond.