An Overview Of Our Solution
Kaikoura Coastal Marine Guardians
Who is this solution impacting?
Ecosystem
Oceans/Coasts
Community Type
Rural
Additional Information
- Population Impacted:
- Continent: Oceania
Problem
Describe the problem
Te Korowai is a group of people standing for local leadership for the care of Tangaroa (the sea) and in decisions on the use and protection of our marine environment. Te Korowai has spent 6 years working together to produce a proposed Marine Strategy,supported by the diverse interests of local recreational and commercial fishers, tourist operators and environmental groups. The strategy includes four sections: Fishing for abundance, Protecting our treasures, Living sustainably, Sustaining customary practices - underpinned by engaging understanding, compliance and monitoring and review. Tools being proposed are marine protected areas,customary tools,reduced bag limits, codes of practice, local and regional government planning tools and special legislation.
Biodiversity Impact
The Te Korowai objective is abundant fish for present and future generations. Te Korowai is committed to: Te Tai Å Marokura (the local sea) as the food basket of the KaikÅura community. Prosperity for local commercial fishers. Good fishing for customary and recreational fishers. This means reducing overall fishing effort from the level accepted in traditional management to a zone of new consensus as described by Dr Ray Hilborn. This approach maximizes benefits rather than maximizing gross biomass harvest.For KaikÅura, the challenge is to be able to manage fisheries effort to a new local consensus and find ways to control access and effort. KaikÅura fisheries are currently open to any recreational fisher and to any commercial fisher that holds quota for areas that include KaikÅura. Fish populations in KaikÅura will remain healthy and grow in response to improved management. This will mean that rules on commercial, cultural and recreational harvest will have to continue to adapt to retain equity in access across all sectors. Fishing for abundance will be achieved by:Fish theft minimised through better enforcement and education of fishers,Localised fisheries managed under local recreational fishing rules,Charter fishers code of practice, Voluntary agreements with commercial fishers brought into a comprehensive KaikÅura Fishing Accord,Improved awareness and behaviour by fishers through education and awareness-raising, More research and monitoring relevant to KaikÅura fisheries and Increased reseeding of local stocks.
Solution
Kaikura is a special place in the world that deserves protection and international recognition for: Its sheer beauty- mountains to the sea. The deep sea canyon so close to the coastline. The outstanding diversity of marine life flourishing in the upwelling of deep oceanic water, diversity of habitat from deep ocean to intertidal shores and warm and cold current convergence. The great diversity of marine habitats in a small geographic area.The whales and dolphins, in great numbers and diversity, including great whales.The second highest number of seabird species ever counted around New Zealand. Threats include: Beach and seabed mining, Aquaculture development, Pollution/plastics, Acidification of water ƒ?? CO2 build up, Biosecurity threats, Run-off from land, More coastal development,State Highway 1 ƒ?? pollution and a lack of awareness. In addition to the limitations on fishing proposed above, the biodiversity will be protected through the use of several different legislated spacial management tools, such as World Heritage status for Kaikura from mountain tops to canyon floor. A marine mammal sanctuary for the whole Kaikura coast. A local code of practice for avoiding Hectorƒ??s dolphin entanglement in set net operations outside the closed area. Marine reserve status over the Kaikura canyon with a connection to the coast South of Barneyƒ??s Rock. A rŽhui within the taiŽpure around the Kaikura Peninsula. A Tiapure to the south of the region and 3 mataitai (customary tools for traditional management practices). // The area to which the solution is being applied is on the East Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. The area covered by this strategy is the coast and sea between Waiau toa (Clarence River), south to Tutaeputaputa (Conway River), from mean high-water springs out to seaward boundaries defined by the issues being raised.This is approximately 90km of coastline. The affected area which is covered by the proposed solution is: Proposed Marine Reserve : 10,608.06 ha Kaikoura Coastal Environments/World Heritage Area ( Both being the same size and shape): 252,380.27 ha This Comprises of : Land 100,750.67 ha Sea 151,629.60 ha
Replicability
How many years has your solution been applied? 6 years // Have others reproduced your solution elsewhere? No // The proposed Strategy is currently out for public consultation. Once the submissions analysis and subseqent review of the Strategy is completed, several processes will begin for the management of the solution. These will include a legislative package, through the Ministry for the Environment, which will set in place localised bag limits and other tools. Customary areas will be established through the Ministry of Fisheries as appropriate and relevant management committees will be set up to govern these areas. In the case of taiapure, a taiapure committee will be established. This committee is appointed by the Minister of Fisheries, but the local runanga (council of the local tangata whenua- people of the land) have indicated that this will comprise a mix of runanga and community representatives. Te Korowai will mainitan a role in the management of statutory areas ans also links with Environment Canterbury and Kaikoura District Council in the development of integrated planning for coastal management.
Human Well Being and Livelihood Impact
Our vision is a future where the moana (sea) of KaikÅura is richer and healthier. We want it to be used sustainably, providing for the needs of present and future generations. In this vision, people will interact with the sea in ways that care for its mauri (life force). People’s activity will be managed to respect the natural connections between living and physical elements and sustain the sea’s dynamic ecological balance. Te Korowai is committed to: Te Tai Å Marokura as the food basket of the KaikÅura community. Prosperity for local commercial fishers. Good fishing for customary and recreational fishers. In addition, Te Korowai is keen to protect the livelinhood of tourism operators and Charter fishers, within the overall plan of protecting the marine area. Te Korowai is also working with local and regional government to develop an integrated land and water plan for the Kaikoura Coast, a public access and highway management plan and effective biosecurity protection. One of the aims of Te Korwai is to ensure that the whole community consciously cares for Te Tai o Marokura - (the local coastal area) from the youngest child to the oldest rsident and that this becomes the natural way of things into the future. Those affected will be the current and future populations of Kaikoura (currently approx 4,00) plus the thousands of tourists who visit annually to take part in the eco-tourism activities of whale, dolphin,seal and bird watching, walking in the beautiful mountains and coastal areas as well as taking part in recreational fishing opportunities. // Te Korowai has taken encouragement from the work of the Fiordland Guardians, who first took the initiative for a locally driven integrated management solution for their region. While a very different area, with different issues and a very different population base, some of the lessons learned from Fiordland were used to help with the formation of Te Korowai. http://www.fmg.org.nz/ Other regions around New Zealand and closely watching Te Korowai and members of the group have been invited to share their experiences with others. Later this year, the group will be looking at how to document the process they have gone through, highlighting the key points and critical success factors and also how they can make this into a format that will be useful for others. There is currently strong central government support for the process, which is beng cited by the Minister for the Environment as a sound process to follow. As stated above, issues related to management and governance will vary depending on the requirements of the specific legislative tools put in place. Te Korowai will seek formalised and legal recognition as well as retaining a lead role, particularly in relation to aspects of the Strategy which are not established through legislation, such as education, supporting the development of local codes of practice, identifyng areas for research and monitoring, engagement with the comunity to grow a sense of kaitiakitanga and ownership, disseminating information. For full details and a copy of the strategy, see www.teamkorowai.org.nz