Spatial Management in Action

System Analysis cybernetic metrics

Exergy, emergy, total production, total biomass, energy flux, resilience, resistance, stability, free energy, information content

Aggregate metrics

Mass flux, ascendancy, redundancy, developmental capacity, guild composition, trophic transfer efficiency, production and biomass in a trophic level group

Food web metrics

Connectivity, trophic links, modal chain length, % omnivory, % cannibalism, linkage density, allocation of species across trophic levels, interaction strength, cycles, predator/prey ratio

Community metrics

Diversity indices, size spectra, species richness, evenness, dominance, overlap indices, interaction indices

Up until what point was fishing in New Zealand only done with customary practices

until 1840

When was the fisheries act established

1983

Purpose of the Fisheries Act

Focused on the management, conservation, and development of fisheries resources within New Zealand’s exclusive economic zone

What did the Fisheries Act establish

Quota Management System, Māori fishing rights, structure for fishery management plans, fishing permits, and regulations

Describe the Quota Management System established by the Fisheries Act

Introduced Individual Transferable Quotas to prevent overfishing by setting Total Allowable Catches and allocating rights to fish

Individual Transferable Quotas definition

Method of governmental fishing regulations where Total Allowable Catch limits are set and portions of the TAC can be bought, sold, and leased by individuals allowing for flexibility in catch levels

Total Allowable Catch (TAC) definition

The total quantity of each fish stock that can be taken by commercial, customary Māori interests, recreational fishing interests, and other sources of fishing-related factors

Describe Māori fishing rights in the Fisheries Act

Section 88(2) originally stated that "Nothing in this Act shall affect a Māori fishing right," which was designed to protect customary rights, though it led to significant legal debate

Why were Customary Protection Areas created

As redress for treaty breaches

Characteristics of Customary Protection Areas

Legislation allows for rangatiratanga (local control), allows local communities to manage fisheries at scales relevant to the stock, allows a community voice in processes around environmental and resource management

What is taiāpure?

It is a customary fisheries protection area in East Otago

Why was taiāpure created

To protect declining fisheries resources, especially pāua stocks, and to restore Māori authority over fisheries management

What legislation governs taiāpure

Part 9 of the Fisheries Act

Who manages taiāpure

The East Otago taiāpure Management Committee (EOTMC)

How is EOTMC structured

It is made up of 50% Kāti Huirapa ki Puketeraki representatives and 50% community representatives

Why is scientific research important to Customary Fisheries Resource Areas

Scientific data supports regulation proposals and strengthens political and community support for conservation measures

What types of regulations has the EOTMC implemented

Set-net bans, temporary closures, bag-limit reductions, and restrictions on commercial shellfish harvesting

What does Ki uta ki tai mean

It means “from the mountains to the sea” and illustrates that we must focus on repairing the entire ecosystem not just one part

Problems with Taiāpure

Fixed nature of legislation, slowness to gain regulations, lack of support for management by the public, risk for local people standing up and advocating a position

Who must sign all regulations and bylaws

the Minister of fisheries

Criteria for the Minister to sign regulations and bylaws

The proposed action is necessary for the sustainable management of the fish in that reserve, it has been properly deposited with the Ministry for public viewing and submissions, is consistent with the stated management aims/conditions of the reserve proposal

Methods of protecting pāua fisheries

prohibit use of diving gear making it a wading fishery only

When was the Resource Management Act established

1991

What is the purpose of the Resource Management Act

Promotes the sustainable management of natural and physical resources. Emphasizes the need for continuing resource extraction to support community, social, and economic needs while not impacting the environment detrimentally

What does the Resource Management Act implement

Dictates that decisions on resource management are made by local governments, recognizes treaty of waitangi in decision making, applies concepts like adaptive management and aims for sustainable use, establishes coastal plan

What is the coastal plan for Otago

provides a framework for the sustainable management of Otago’s coastal marine area. It sets objectives, policies, and rules to manage resource use, protect environmental values, and control activities from mean high-water springs to 12 nautical miles offshore

How much soil was displaced in the port Otago dredging

Disposal of 7.2 million m³ of rock, sand, silt, clay

Where would the sediment from the port Otago dredging be dumped

6km of Taiaroa head

What was the concern regarding the port Otago dredging

People were concerned that sediment will end up on the sensitive reef habitats. Sediment was already a major problem in the Taiāpure and could be made worse

What was the claim the dredging company made about water flow and soil displacement

Claimed that the flow of the ocean would carry the soil in a straight line right in between two sensitive areas without damaging them. The actual current flow is much more complex and dynamic due to eddied caused by the peninsula

What issues are associated with consent being given to the dredging company on the condition that their claims are true

Was not enforceable (if it went wrong, they didn’t have to stop), no monitoring of kelp forests, no consideration that the model that the whole consent was based on could be wrong

How can you use extraordinary natural events to halt operations like dredging

If you have limits to the amount of suspended sediment present in the water, then activities like dredging will immediately max out limits forcing them to stop

What factors do you have to consider when managing reserves

Estuaries, beaches, reefs, kelp forests, marine reserves act in play, forestry, farming, invasive species, impacts of surrounding fisheries must be managed by RMA and Fisheries act

When was the Marine Reserves Act established

1971

What is the purpose of the Marine Reserves Act

Aims to preserve areas of sea and foreshore as marine reserves for the purpose of scientific study

What does the Marine Reserves Act establish

Provides a platform for scientific research and study of marine life within protected areas, empowers the department of conservation to manage and monitor marine reserves, prohibits fishing in marine reserves except under specific permits, it supports the implementation of marine protected areas by providing framework for their establishment and management