Marine NZ

Date Posted: 10 Feb 2010 | 1 Comments

The mining debate on conservation land has stimulated discussion about the potential effects on the marine enviornment. Roger Grace made the comment that given a chance mining interests may want to mine seabed, specifically biologically unique hydrothermal vents, such as those on the Kermadec Ridge within the Kermadec Islands Marine Reserve, which is under Department of Conservation jurisdiction.

Historically it is interesting that the initial catalyst to get the Poor Knights Islands into a marine reserve was the fact that Norcom Oils and Minerals Ltd wanted to carry out siesmic surveys around the Poor Knights to explore for oil! 

Although the Mining Act takes precedence over the Marine Reserves Act, if a marine reserve exists it makes it that little bit more politically difficult to mine in such an area.

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Posted in: New Zealand News •

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