There are currently no marine protected areas on the south-east coast of the South Island, although the East Coast Taiapure local fishery at Karitane controls the take of shellfish and fish as part of an effort to secure a long term sustainable fishery. Photo: RNZ / Alison Ballance
The marine environment along the East Coast of the South Island, from Timaru to the Catlins, currently enjoys no protection whatsoever.
All that is set to change come 2016 when the recommendations of the South East Marine Protection Forum go to government.
Science communication student Rupert Morris, from the University of Otago, got the chance to chat about these exciting developments with the chair of the Forum, environmental lawyer Maree Baker-Galloway, and the national director of Experiencing Marine Reserves Samara Nichols.
Samara is planning to expand her amazing Experiencing Marine Reserves programme into Dunedin, getting kids and communities into the water to see just what marine protection can do. Now Maree and Samara have started a relationship that could mean big things for the marine environment around Dunedin.
A story about how University of Otago research into paua is helping the East Otago Taiapure Local Fishery decide how to manage local shellfish stocks featured on Our Changing World previously.
