My Account
A surge in population, increased development and continued high levels of commercial and recreational fishing are among mounting pressures contributing to the continuing degradation of the Hauraki Gulf.
That’s the warning from the Hauraki Gulf Forum’s 2017 State of Our Gulf Report, a three-yearly look at the health of Auckland’s east coast and inland waters.
The report found that fish stocks were declining in most species, with snapper and crayfish populations down by up to 80 per cent due to fishing, with older, larger fish the worst affected.
“Snapper growth rates have also slowed,” the report says. “This represents a major reduction in the population, and has contributed to an alteration in the functioning and intrinsic values of reef ecosystems.”
There are six marine reserves in the Gulf, including those at Goat Island and Tawharanui, but these only protect around 0.3 per cent of gulf waters, and only one new reserve has been created since the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act came into force in 2000. In addition, cable protection zones prevent fishing in around 4.9 per cent of the Gulf, but “there is little evidence of ecological recovery” in those areas.
Meanwhile, the region’s population increased by 18 per cent between 2006 and 2016, adding nearly a quarter of a million people. Auckland’s population is expected to reach 2.1 million by 2033. This, together with associated developmental pressures, is causing the Gulf waters to struggle, the forum says.
“Ongoing pressures continue from population growth and associated demand for housing, infrastructure and facilities; tourism, shipping, fishing and aquaculture; farming and forestry; and a myriad of other actions and activities that are carried out in the Gulf and its catchment.”
The report warns that the rapid pace of change is outstripping the ability of current management frameworks to respond effectively. Reasons include commercial pressures, cost, technical limitations, the slow pace of legislation and tensions between regulations, such as the Resource Management Act and the Fisheries Act.
It says integrated action is needed now more than ever, pointing out there is already a blueprint in place in the form of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Spatial Plan, Sea Change – Tai Timu Tai Pari. This was launched in 2016 after a three-year collaboration between mana whenua, Auckland Council, Waikatao Regional Council, the Department of Conservation, the Ministry of Primary Industries and the Hauraki Gulf Forum. However, it is not legally binding and any progress on implementing its suggestions has been slow or non-existent.
“If agencies decide not to implement the plan, or to only implement parts of it, the Hauraki Gulf Forum will need to consider alternative approaches for addressing the challenges identified in its strategic framework for action. This is likely to involve more delays, when the need for urgent action has been clearly signaled.”
The report has prompted one local boating tourism operator to drop fishing from its charter offerings. Kurt Salmond, who runs Gulf Eco Adventures out of Sandspit, says fishing had never been a huge aspect of his business, but it was something he offered to private charters.
“It didn’t really sit well, even trying to do more sustainable fishing practices, because we’re environmentally conscious and I’m not passionate about it myself, but there is still a big market out there,” Kurt says.
“But when I saw the report, it was just a no-brainer to just stop it. It was an easy decision for me; my gut feeling was confirmed. It’s one little thing we can do.”
He says he’s not pleading for an end to all fishing, but says things have to change to prevent irreparable harm to the Gulf.
“We’ve got to think long-term; it’s about the next generation. Everybody can’t keep acting the same way,” he says. “It’s not just the population growth, it’s the number of people fishing, and all the other aspects the Gulf is coming under stress from. It’s all take, take, take.
“I’m not trying to say everybody has got to stop catching fish, my 7-year-old loves to fish,” he adds. “It’s just changing that mentality from going out for the biggest ones. They’re the ones that are so successful for breeding; the older they are, the better they are at reproducing. If you take one of those, it’s like you’re taking 20 young adults.”
Kurt has witnessed rapid changes in local marine ecosystems even in the two years he has been running his business, which specialises in snorkelling trips out to the islands.
“The kina barrens are growing in size,” he says. “And the number of commercial crayfish pots we see out at Little Barrier, it looks like a minefield. Everything’s going further and further out. I’ve almost got to go out to the Mokohinaus for good snorkelling now.”
The State of our Gulf 2017 report is available at haurakigulfforum.org.nz
