But what most people haven’t really realised is that the plunder
hasn’t just happened where they have noticed it. It’s happened way,
way out in the deep sea, in New Zealand waters and further out into
the international waters of the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean and
beyond.

Bottom trawling was a key factor in the collapse of what was thought
to be world’s most abundant fishery: Atlantic cod. The pillage was
finally halted by the Canadian government in 1992 with a moratorium –
a temporary halt – put on fishing for cod. It was thought that two
years later when the cod populations increased, the moratorium would
be lifted… but now, thirteen years later the moratorium remains. The
Atlantic cod populations, their habitats and ecosystems are so far
damaged beyond repair. Noboby know if they can or how long it would
take to get back in a healthy condition.

If this happened to the world’s most robust fishery, think of the
effects of bottom trawling on those that are more vulnerable.

Last weekend when we were in Gisborne I was lucky enough to go to the
marine reserve north of the town called Te Tapuwae o Rongokako. It
was established in 1999 after ten years of discussion and negotiation.

Profound changes have happened since fishing ended – not only with
life within the reserve, but also with people’s attitudes in the
surrounding area. The crayfish population has also exploded.

Research has shown that paua and kina larvae move around 20 metres
from their parents. The currents usually take then north into the
traditional fishing area of local iwi, Ngati Konohi, so they benefit
from the reserve. Snapper swim south out of the reserve with a number
of which are being caught by summer campers. These people have said
they’ve caught the biggest snappers of their lives in the past few
years and wonder why there aren’t more marine reserves.

And obviously the biggest winner is the sea itself from not being
systematically beaten up for some speceis of fish.

That’s why marine reserves are part of the answer in coastal and deep
areas, in national and international waters. Marine reserves not only
act as protection for breeding areas, of incredible communities of
life, to safeguard endangered species, for recreation and scientific
study – but also to protect the future of fishing and jobs.

We all know the fish are disappearing fast. But generally arguments
about marine reserves go like this: recreational fishers blame the
Kiwi commercial fishers, the commercial fishers blame fishing boats
from overseas, and everybody blames politicians. Nobody takes
responsibility and every day more ocean life disappears.

By themselves, marine reserves are not the answer. But, along with a
UN moratorium on bottom trawling in international waters, marine
reserves will play a crucial role in saving our ocean life.

(photo - kapiti island marine reserve)