Last week, the Mussel Reef Restoration Trust submitted feedback to Fisheries NZ on the draft Hauraki Gulf Fisheries Plan. If enacted, the Plan could revolutionise the management of fisheries in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park by shifting to a smaller, more localised scale, allowing for better recognition of local depletion and ecosystem-based management.
The Trust is urging the Minister to quickly implement this much-needed Plan, and our submission highlights the importance of also enacting the Marine Protection Proposals package, which establishes new marine and seafloor protection areas in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park.
In conjunction with the protection proposals, the Hauraki Gulf Fisheries Plan has the potential to significantly improve the health of the Tīkapa Moana / Te Moananui ā-Toi / Hauraki Gulf ecosystem and support sustainable fishing practices.
Although many organisations, such as Revive Our Gulf, are working to create a healthier and more vibrant ocean, the government plays a critical role in appropriately managing fisheries and marine ecosystems within the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park.
The Mussel Reef Restoration Trust’s submission is here…