Fisheries New Zealand has released a report detailing the extent of kelp forest loss along the north-east coast of New Zealand. This is the first time a comprehensive survey of kina barrens at scale has been undertaken.
“The extent of kina barrens and associated kelp forest loss documented in the report is profoundly shocking,” said EDS Policy Director Raewyn Peart.
“Overall, our underwater forests have disappeared from over a third of our north-east coastline. But there have been much greater losses in areas such as the Hauturu-o-Toi (Little Barrier Island 77% loss), the Noises (72%), Mimiwhangata (57%) and Great Mercury (40%).
“Given this large-scale collapse of our kelp forests, it is now not surprising that we have been seeing starving snapper and poor rock lobster recruitment.
“We know that heathy kelp forests are enormously important for marine productivity and biodiversity. They are a major contributor to primary productivity and therefore the food supply for a myriad of marine species further up the food chain. Around 40 percent of coastal fish are at least partially dependant on kelp forests.
“Kelp forests also provide important areas for fish spawning and settlement, and shelter for juveniles, including rock lobster. Without them, far fewer juvenile fish survive to recruit into the fishery.
“Kelp forests increase fish growth rates and the resilience of stocks. This is becoming increasingly important with rapid seawater warming and climate-induced marine heatwaves.
“The major driver of kelp forest loss is the overfishing of kina predators including large rock lobster and snapper. We need to urgently stop their harvest in areas where kina barrens have developed or are likely to develop in the future.
“The closure of crayfish harvest by the Fisheries Minister in the inner Hauraki Gulf is a good start, but it is now evident that kelp forest loss is even more prevalent in the outer Gulf, Northland and the Bay of Plenty. We need to be urgently putting in place closures in these areas as well.
“We will also need to intervene to expedite the re-establishment of kelp forests through the removal of excess kina. Fortunately, philanthropic entities such as the NEXT Foundation are already leaning into this space. However philanthropic funding is unlikely to flow unless we have closures in place to protect predators and enable the natural ecosystem balance to re-establish.
“This also highlights the urgent need to pass the Hauraki Gulf Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Bill.
“Fisheries New Zealand currently has proposals out for submission to address kina barrens. EDS has submitted and supported the closure of the east coast of the CRA 1 (Northland) fishery and additional closures in the outer Hauraki Gulf. Submissions close on 29 September and we urge everyone with an interest in healthy marine areas to submit.
You can read the Fisheries NZ report here.
You can read the Fisheries NZ Discussion Document here.
You can read EDS’s submission here.