Anglers protest at marine reserve

Recreational anglers are considering a protest against the creation of the country's latest marine reserve in Tasman Bay.

The 948ha reserve from Glenduan to Te Ataata Point was officially announced on Tuesday by Conservation Minister David Benson-Pope.

Although the formation of the country's 20th marine reserve was welcomed by conservationists, not all interest groups are happy.

Free Seas spokesman Daryl Crimp yesterday joined another recreational fishing group, Tasfish, and iwi in condemning the reserve's formation.

Mr Crimp said Free Seas was considering launching a fleet of boats to protest against its creation.

"Recreational fishers are getting exasperated that we are not being listened to."

Although the reserve covered a relatively small area of Tasman Bay, it was still a key recreational fishing area and a very safe area for small vessels.

Free Seas was concerned that recreational fishing groups had been ignored during the consultation process.

The reserve had also been formed to preserve a marine ecosystem that had no unique values, he said.

"The legislation says reserves can be formed where there is some unique flora or fauna. The flora in The Glen is not unique to that area - it's typical of Tasman Bay. "The fish we catch there are also mostly migratory."

But Nelson-based Department of Conservation marine specialist Andrew Baxter said the reserve did contain unique values.

The transition area between the Boulder Bank in the south and the open bedrock habitat in the north was not found anywhere else in Tasman Bay.

Mr Baxter said the Marine Reserve Act could protect areas that were not unique. Legislation could also be used to preserve areas that were typical of a region's coast.

Ngati Tama trustee John Mitchell said the iwi opposed the concept of a marine reserve: "A marine reserve is not a management regime at all. It's 'lock an area up and hope that God or Mother Nature or something works its magic and you will get restoration of a pristine environment'. Well, there are no guarantees in that."

Iwi, including Ngati Tama, had customary fishing rights wiped out by the introduction of the reserve, he said. Tasfish, a lobby group, said recreational fishers were left as "the meat in the sandwich" between commercial interests and conservationists.

- NZPA