Ocean survey vital for future

A survey of our ocean environment is about to get underway.

New Zealand is embarking on its next big era of discovery, the Minister for Land Information and the Minister for Research, Science and Technology said yesterday.

The Ministers were launching Ocean Survey 20/20. The objective of the survey is to build up a comprehensive picture of New Zealand's oceanic interests and the resources and ecosystems they contain over the next 15 years.

"New Zealand's future prosperity will depend increasingly on our ocean resources; such as our fisheries, aquaculture, natural products, hydrocarbons and other minerals," said Land Information Minister Pete Hodgson. "Before we can efficiently and sustainably manage those resources, we need a fuller understanding of their make up. Ocean Survey 20/20 is designed to deliver that."

The survey will cover the seabed, water column and airspace of New Zealand's Exclusive economic zone and extend out to the edge of the continental shelf; an area of around 6.5 million square kilometres.

Minister for Research, Science and Technology Steve Maharey added: "Many agencies are already involved in a variety of exploration and research activities, but there is still a lot more to find out about our marine jurisdiction. New technology and the resources being brought together for Ocean Survey 20/20 mean we stand to greatly increase our understanding of our marine interests."

Mr Hodgson concluded, "This survey is the marine equivalent of the land mapping and survey of New Zealand that began 150 years ago, which today influences land use decision making. Our goal is to build up an equivalent body of knowledge against which we can make decisions around the sustainable management of our oceans."