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From: PATRICK FITZGIBBON
_: 5
Date: 12-08-10
Time: 10:59
Hi Wade, Having just returned from SE Asia where I worked for two years to raise the reputation and value of mangroves the fishermens' animosity towards them is not exclusive to NZ. They were removed in Asia to make space for marine fish farming and now the coastline is totally exposed to typhoons as experienced in 2009 in Philippines and Viet Nam. A huge loss of human life and destruction of coastal livelihoods eventuated. The ecological value as the producer in the food chain is unrecognised as is their nursery and coastal protection role. Estuarine habitat is so much less productive without them and yet coastal residents and fishermen are distracted by mangroves inhabiting mudflats formed by sediment from inappropriate land management upstream.
Last changed: 23-Jul-2011