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From: WADE DOAK
_: 5
Date: 28-07-10
Time: 11:23
I agree with the comments of John Anderson re Mimiwhangata marine park, below on this site.
Using my boat and camera I was involved in the underwater survey of it way back in the seventies, hoping it would receive full protection. But to negotiate it, compromise was made, just as with the original Poor Knights Island MR. Restricted fishing in a marine protected zone has now been recognised as ineffective.
I once attended a seminar on Marine Reserves at Goat Island marine lab, where scenarios for MR were discussed. It was the consensus of all there that if too many provisos were imposed on the creation of a MR, it would be better not to go ahead with it. A Claytons MR is the outcome, such as we had at the Poor Knights initially. It would better to wait until a better climate exists in which to create a proper no-take MR or we are stuck with a poor situation for a long time. Such is the result at Mimiwhangata where fishing is said to be better outside of it than within, for reasons such as John Anderson provides.
The Marine Park at Tawharanui, just south of Leigh, was created under the aegis of the more enlightened ARA. It has always been a total no-take area and now offers a bold contrast with Mimiwhangata. It abounds with crays. On land it is protected by an elaborate predator proof fence. Bellbirds and other endangered native birds are returning and the ocean is prolific. That is how we dreamt the spectacular Mimiwhangata peninsula would become...
Last changed: 23-Jul-2011