The Green Party will end bottom impact trawling, dredging, and Danish seining in the Hauraki Gulf, as part of its
Thriving Oceans Plan.
Green Party Co-leader and Tamaki Makaurau candidate Marama Davidson said today:
“So many New Zealanders love and enjoy Tikapa Moana/Te Moananui a Toi/the Hauraki Gulf and want to see it thrive.
“A growing population, greater recreational use of the Tikapa Moana/Te Moananui a Toi/the Hauraki Gulf, and a better
scientific understanding of how much the gulf’s health has declined, mean we need to step up protection.
“The Green Party’s Thriving Oceans Plan would help restore this precious resource so that the water is clean, the
seafloor protected, and the fish, dolphins, whales, and little blue penguins who inhabit it are able to flourish.
“Bottom trawling and dredging are indiscriminate and destructive fishing methods. These practices destroy and degrade
the sea bed habitats of the Tikapa Moana/Te Moananui a Toi/Hauraki Gulf, which needs a healthy seafloor to thrive.
“We will urgently phase out the most destructive commercial fishing practices in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park such as
bottom impact trawling, dredging, and Danish seining, as recommended in Sea Change Tai Timu Tai Pari: the Hauraki Gulf
Marine Spatial Plan.
“The Green Party will also zone parts of the Tikapa Moana/Te Moananui a Toi/Hauraki Gulf for additional protection,
including areas for customary takes and iwi and hapū management, as well as no-take marine reserves and areas for
scientific research.
“To give everyone a better chance of catching a fish, we will reduce bag limits, and bring in boat catch limits for
certain species while they recover. This is crucial to prevent the overfishing which leads to the loss of some species.
“The Green Party will also invest $10m to help restore 100,000 hectares of shellfish beds, and take immediate steps to
reduce sewerage and stormwater pollution.
“We need to think ahead and make changes now if we want future generations to be able to enjoy Tikapa Moana/Te Moananui
a Toi/the Hauraki Gulf. The Green Party is willing to do what’s necessary to protect this precious taonga.”Our Thriving Oceans Plan would:
• Urgently phase out the most destructive commercial fishing practices in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park such as bottom
impact trawling, dredging, and Danish seining, as recommended in Sea Change Tai Timu Tai Pari: the Hauraki Gulf Marine
Spatial Plan.
• Zone areas in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park for active protection and management of fish and marine life. These will
include areas for customary takes and iwi and hapū management through tools such as mataitai and taiapure, areas for
scientific research, recreational fishing, and areas for no take marine reserves and temporary no take areas.
• Give everyone a better chance of catching a fish by reducing bag limits and implementing boat catch limits for key
species until they recover, based on scientific assessments of what’s necessary to restore healthy fish stocks.
• Work to restore 100,000 hectares of shellfish beds, the equivalent of 100,000 rugby fields, and invest $10 million in
this.
• Reduce sewerage and stormwater pollution with investment through the Government’s Three Waters Infrastructure funding
programme, as well as funding soft infrastructure such as rain gardens and green roofs to absorb rainwater before it
runs into the sea.
• Restore the health of tributary rivers and streams through more riparian planting and freshwater clean-up programmes,
as outlined in the Green Party’s Farming for the Future plan.