Rāhui extended for fish sanctuary in the Bay of Islands

Friday, 12 October 2018

A Queensland grouper swimming at the wreck of the HMNZ Canterbury in Deep Water Cove.

Marine life at Maunganui Bay in the Bay of Islands will get a further reprieve from fishing with the extension of an official no-take zone.

A rāhui or prohibition from taking any fish species (except kina) was initiated under the Fisheries Act by local hapū Ngati Kuta and Patukeha of Te Rawhiti.

Maunganui Bay, also known as Deep Water Cove, was closed in December 2010 under section 186A of the Fisheries Act 1996. Initially this was set down for two years with an extension granted every two years through until October 13, 2018.

Now both hapū and conservation advocates are celebrating with the news the closure will be extended for a further two years.

* 'Rare' tropical Aussie grouper spotted in NZ after summer's marine heatwave

* Strong support for Bay of Islands rāhui rollover

* No fishing rules remain at Deep Water Cove**

Schools of fish have returned to the area since the rāhui after a surge in commercial and recreational fishing depleted the once-abundant fishery.

An artificial reef and a fisheries closure at Deep Water Cove in the Bay of Islands has provided divers with encounters with sea life of all kinds.

Robert Willoughby of Ngati Kuta is pleased the closure to fishing will continue.

'I've heard stories of people watching a dolphin pod in there for a whole day and school fish are coming back.'

Willoughby said the project was part of a larger project by the hapū of Te Rawhiti, as they were also working on land-based conservation projects.

'It's Māori doing their piece of conservation work by tradition - there's a cultural significance of that place and we want to maintain it,' Willoughby said.

Willoughby said Maunganui Bay could provide social benefits in the future for local people - including potential tourism and employment opportunities.

The cove is also home to the former Navy frigate Canterbury, which was sunk in 2007 to create an artificial reef.

Marine conservation group Fish Forever have supported the rāhui since its inception in 2010, and provided a link for members of the public to make submissions. This year 1039 submissions were recorded before the cut-off date in June.

Fish Forever chair Dean Wright said 'it's just fabulous' the rāhui has been extended.

'It's become a pretty cool place to snorkel, and dive surrounded by heaps of fish

'We've seen big snapper, crayfish - it's wonderful.

'That's not always your experience when snorkelling in the bay - it's very cool Ngati Kuta and Patukeha are protecting this area, we are very appreciative.

'We need more no-take areas.'

Director of Fisheries Management Stuart Anderson confirmed the Minister of Fisheries approved the extension of the closure of Maunganui Bay for a further two years.

'Such closures can be put in place by the Minister of Fisheries for the purpose of recognising and providing for the use and management practices of Māori.'