New Subantarctic marine reserves established
Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith has formally established three new marine reserves covering 435,000 hectares of
ocean surrounding the Antipodes, Bounty and Campbell Islands from Perseverance Harbour, Campbell Island.
“The New Zealand Subantarctic Islands are one of the most pristine places on earth and these marine reserves are about
keeping them that way. The marine reserve status that takes effect today means there can be no fishing, no mining, no
petroleum exploration and no marine farming in these waters,” Dr Smith says.
“The new marine reserves will ensure protection for the incredible diversity of wildlife on these islands. They are the
most important breeding site in the world for albatross such as the iconic Southern Royal Albatross. There are three
species of penguin including the erect-crested that exist only on these islands, and there are significant breeding
grounds for the New Zealand fur seal and the New Zealand sea lion, as well as the elephant seal. The islands are also a
breeding ground for New Zealand’s rarest whale, the southern right. These reserves will also protect massive underwater
forests of unique antipodean bull kelp – a species larger than any other found in New Zealand. Other unique marine
species to be protected are giant spider crabs and white-footed paua.
“The strength of these marine reserves is that we now have complete ecosystem protection covering the land and the sea
of these Subantarctic Islands. The lack of marine protection was flagged by UNESCO when they approved World Heritage
status for the islands in 1998 when I was last Minister, and I’m particularly pleased to see this process completed.
“These new marine reserves – which bring New Zealand’s total number of marine reserves to 37 – stand out for their
scale. The area coming under protection is thirteen times larger than the total area of all the reserves on New
Zealand’s three main islands. It will expand the proportion of our territorial sea that is protected to 9.5 per cent,
close to the target of 10 per cent recommended by the United Nations.
“I would like to commend the important role of the Subantarctic Marine Protection Forum in this significant conservation
achievement, particularly Te Ohu Kaimoana, the Deepwater Group, Forest and Bird, the Scampi Fishery Development Company,
the Crab Company, SeaFic, Ngāi Tahu, WWF New Zealand, ECO, NIWA, and the Forum’s chair Paul Beverley. Nor would these
new reserves exist without the support of the Royal New Zealand Navy and the Department of Conservation.
“The National-led Government is aiming to complete a record number of marine reserves this year as part of our balanced
programme of economically developing some ocean areas and setting aside others for permanent protection.”
Ends