The Minister of Conservation has approved the Bay of Plenty Regional Coastal Environment Plan, resolving the two outstanding appeals relating to the Motiti Protection Area and Matakana Island.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council has received notice that the Motiti Protection Area, of particular interest to local fishing communities, has been signed off as part of a complex six year legal process which has traversed multiple courts.

In April 2020, the Environment Court directed Regional Council to implement new rules to protect three reef systems around Motiti Island where the taking of all plants and animals (including fish and shellfish) will be prohibited for everyone. The three areas comprise of Ōtaiti (Astrolabe Reef); including Te Papa (Brewis Shoal), Te Porotiti, and O Karapu Reef, Motuhaku Island (Schooner Rocks) and Motunau Island (Plate Island). These protection areas have been identified for their significant marine biodiversity, landscape and cultural values.

Traditionally, the Ministry for Primary Industries and Department of Conservation have been responsible for rules around how plants and animals are managed in the marine environment. The Environment Court ruling means that regional councils now have a role to play in protecting marine biodiversity around these three reefs. The Minister’s sign off is the next step in this unique process, which now leads to Regional Council needing to determine an implementation date.

Regional Council’s Regulatory Services General Manager, Sarah Omundsen says, the community can expect to see the rules in place for next summer.

“There will be a focus on education and information-sharing leading up to the new rules taking effect. We’ll be ensuring a fair and reasonable notice period so everyone can get prepared and do their bit to protect this area’s marine biodiversity.”

Ms Omundsen says planning for a public education campaign is well underway and details of the protected areas and how people can help look after these reefs, will be in local newspapers, community newsletters, on boat ramp signage, on Regional Council’s website and social media.

“Over the coming weeks we will be working through the next steps, including determining a date the rules will apply. We know that this has come about through an unusual process, and will be working with tangata whenua and a number of groups in the community, including recreational and commercial fishing groups. We are also collaborating with other government agencies, including the Ministry for Primary Industries and Department of Conservation, for the best outcomes. We can all agree that the marine environment is worth protecting for future generations and by following the new rules, everyone can do their bit to protect these reefs and their ecosystems too.”

Bay of Plenty Regional Council Deputy Chair and Chair of the Coastal Plan Sub-Committee, Jane Nees says it is excellent to finally have the Regional Coastal Plan appeals resolved, providing direction and certainty for the community. She says it has been a long process for everyone involved but is now another step in the right direction to preserve our coastal treasures.

“This is a unique and complex case, resulting from a decision by the Environment Court. As a result, there has not been specific public consultation, as the proposed protection areas were not included as part of the proposed Regional Coastal Environment Plan that was consulted on in 2015.

However, we are committed to providing clarity around what the Motiti Protection Area means for our community, why the Regional Council is involved, and will be working with tāngata whenua and all stakeholders to make sure the new rules are well understood with plenty of notice before they come into effect this year,” Councillor Nees says.

The Regional Council has started environmental monitoring within the Motiti Protection Areas to establish a baseline for how the reef ecology looks today, before the reefs are protected. This data will then be used for years to come as a reference point to determine if the protections put in place by the court are achieving the desired biodiversity outcomes.

The Regional Coastal Environment Plan promotes sustainable management of the natural and physical resources of the Bay of Plenty's coastal environment.

For more information and to download a map showing the Motiti Protection Area, please visit www.boprc.govt.nz/motitipa

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