Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment - Te Kaitiaki Taiao a Te Whare Pāremata

An investigation into the significant issues, strategic risks and opportunities that influence the management of New Zealand's marine environment. The report concludes that a major revision of our thinking, policies and legislation is needed to ensure the sustainable future of the oceans and seas around New Zealand.

Commissioner's preface

New Zealand 's marine environment is enormous,of great economic,ecological and spiritual value. However, our knowledge of its treasures and functions is akin to that of our terrestrial forests at the turn of the 20th century. We are woefully ignorant of what could well be New Zealand's number one ecological and economic asset.

Dr J Morgan Williams
Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment

 

Executive summary

The marine environment is a large, complex system with many overlapping and conflicting interests, agencies, processes and legislation. This overview study gives a comprehensive, multi-dimensional view of the marine world and the intricacies involved in its management.

The marine environment include the biophysical resources (the water, fish, birds, marine ecosystems, mineral resources) and the people (coastal communities, organisations and businesses) with a stake and interest in the marine world.

Issues discussed in the report include:

• Why the marine environment matters to New Zealanders. This discussion covers the different values and expectations that people bring to their involvement with the sea, and the utilisation and monetary value of marine resources.
• How the marine environment is managed, including an outline of the statutory and institutional framework that applies to marine management (a rather bewildering system with 18 main statutes and 14 agencies having some responsibility for management). Also explored is the relationship between government and community in marine management.
• The different rights and responsibilities that people have, or expect to have, in the marine environment (for example the right to catch a fish, move cargo by ships, explore for mineral resources, and swim in the sea)
• The adequacy of our information and knowledge about the marine environment.

Although the report identifies some constructive initiatives by Government, tangata whenua and communities in working toward sustainable marine management, it also identifies a number of areas for concern, namely:

• There is a lack of communication and a grave lack of trust among marine stakeholders that is severely inhibiting the advancement of sustainable management.
• New Zealand's lack of marine knowledge is a serious environmental and economic risk, and the willingness of Government to invest in attaining knowledge is crucial to achieving sustainable management.
• Current marine management structures are arbitrary, fragmented, and lacking a coherent overarching strategic focus that would integrate diverse interests and values.
• The current commercial fishing rights regime cannot by itself ensure sustainable management of fisheries and other marine resources.

 

Findings & recommendations

Without a substantial focus on our marine environment over the next decade, there can be no guarantee that ecological qualities will be sustained or the viability of businesses dependent upon them maintained. Although the report identifies some constructive initiatives by Government, tangata whenua and communities in working toward sustainable marine management, it also identifies a number of areas for concern, namely:

• There is a lack of communication and a grave lack of trust among marine stakeholders that is severely inhibiting the advancement of sustainable management
• New Zealand's lack of marine knowledge is a serious environmental and economic risk, and the willingness of Government to invest in attaining knowledge is crucial to achieving sustainable management.
• Current marine management structures are arbitrary, fragmented, and lacking a coherent overarching strategic focus that would integrate diverse interests and values
• The current commercial fisheries rights regime, cannot, by itself, ensure sustainable management of marine resources.

As a result of these findings several recommendations are made to the Ministers of Conservation, Fisheries and for the Environment on:

• Reviewing the adequacies of the current legislative and policy framework to ensure integrated management of our coastal and marine areas;
• Giving high priority to identifying and protecting a selection of seamounts for information and ecological research purposes; and
• Increasing investment in marine and coastal ecosystem sciences.

Given the need for active Government leadership to address current inadequacies and take a long-term view of marine management, the most important recommendation is to the Prime Minister to establish a Coastal and Oceans Task Force to develop an overarching strategy for the sustainable management of New Zealand's marine environment.