15 March 2003 Media Statement
Sea Week opportunity to celebrate marine diversity
The annual celebration of Sea Week this week has been an opportunity to celebrate New Zealand’s extraordinary marine
life, Conservation Minister Chris Carter said today.
“New Zealand lies at the centre of the ‘water hemisphere’. Almost one-third of all our indigenous species that we know
of live in our seas, and there are many more that we don’t know of. On average seven new marine species are being
identified each fortnight,” Mr Carter said.
“Our seas are of enormous conservation value, and yet in many ways we treat them badly. We are losing or are close to
losing thousands of species from fish to marine plants to dolphins.
“Less than 0.1% of New Zealand’s coastal areas are protected for future generations in stark contrast to efforts that
have now saved almost a third of New Zealand’s land from depredation,” Mr Carter said.
“Communities all over the country are starting to speak up for marine protection. The marine reserves we do have are
proving tourist drawcards, recreational havens, and nurseries for commercial fish stocks.
“I hope we will have decisions on four marine reserves by the end of the year. 2003 is an exciting year for marine
conservation. This year we will see action on the oceans policy, aquaculture reforms, the Marine Reserves Bill, a
National Plan of Action on sea birds, a marine protected areas stategy, and a range of initiatives on individual marine
reserve applications,” Mr Carter said.
“There are a variety of ways of protecting marine environments and I urge anyone who loves the sea to start exploring
these options in their local community. The Department of Conservation will provide as much advice and scientific data
as it can.”
Mr Carter was speaking at a Sea Week celebration at the Poor Knights Marine Reserve in Northland where he and other
divers explored the protected marine ecosystem.
ENDS