Marine NZ

Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow
Author(s): Roger Grace

Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow, an article by roger Grace for Dive NZ magazine, March 2010.

Precis. Fully Protected Marine Reserves : a guide
Author(s): Callum M Roberts et al

Callum M Roberts and Julie P Hawkins, fully protected marine reserves - a guide, answers all your questions about marine reserves. Fantastic summary points and key lessons for the creation of new reserves.

Economic Impact Analysis of the Cape Rodney Okakari Point (Leigh) Marine Reserve on the Rodney D
Author(s): Lou Hunt

Abstract
This analysis was initiated in light of the Department’s Strategic Direction and shows that aside from the known intrinsic and biological benefits, marine reserves can, in a broader context, make a considerable contribution to local economies.

The study looks at the economic impact of activities associated with the Cape Rodney – Okakari Marine Reserve (CROP) on the Rodney District by measuring the reserve’s economic impact on variables such as the level of employment, expenditure and incomes.

The Cape Rodney Okakari Point Marine Reserve was established in 1975 and is the most popular marine reserve in New Zealand.  The reserve received an estimated 375 000 visits in the year to February 28th, 2008. 

The surveys show that around 60 % of visitors to the reserve are day visitors to the Rodney District and spend an average of $ 29 per person.  Around 30 % are overnight visitors to the region and spend an average of $137 per trip.  Seven percent of visitors live locally and 1 % owned property locally but lived outside the district.  The majority of day visitors (54 %) said that if the marine reserve did not exist then they would not visit, or would be unlikely to visit, the district on the day they were interviewed

The Total Output in Rodney dependent on the existence of the marine reserve is estimated to be
$18.6 million per year.  Some $ 12.1 million of this is direct spend by visitors and the balance is the result of flow-on effect through the district economy.  Associated with this output is Total Value Added of $8.2 million per year and employment for 173 FTE’s (full time equivalents) in Rodney, including 10 jobs in marine reserve-related activities. 

DOC’s total annual budget at the marine reserve varies but is approximately $70,000 per year, including a total staff input of 0.8FTE.

Burdens of Evidence and the Benefits of Marine Reserves: Putting Descartes Before Des Horse?
Author(s): T J Willis et al

The authors’ purpose was to examine the science, rather than politics, of the field of ‘marine reserves’. The report examines the relevant peer reviewed primary literature from 1990-2001. The authors highlight the imbalance in research effort brought about by a lack of rigorous empirical science. They submit that while theoretical models (mathematical or not) are useful in developing ideas, they are just that: ideas. They note that it appears that a lot of thinking has gone into specification of competing models of marine reserves. That is, the models and prior hypotheses about the nature of marine
reserves have been put forward in abundance. The authors conclude that it is now time to test these models and hypothese with data.

Indirect Effects of Marine Reserve Protection on New Zealand’s Rocky Coastal Marine Communities
Author(s): Nick Shears and Russell Babcock

This paper discusses the results of a study in which the density and population structure of sea urchins, the extent of urchin barrens habitat, and algal community structure were investigated. That data was compared between reserve and non-reserve locations throughout New Zealand to investigate the role of predators in controlling benthic community structure. The potential effects of envrionmental variables in explaining the difference between the reserve and non-reserve locations were also investigated. The authors found no universal differences between reserve and non-reserve sites. They concluded that any spatial variations had to take into account environmental variability within locations to investigate such indirect effects.

Long-Term Trends in Lobster Populations in a Partially Protected vs. No-Take Marine Park
Author(s): Nick Shears et al

This study presents long-term data (1977–2005) from before and after park establishment, on the abundance of spiny lobster Jasus edwardsii from fixed sites in a no-take marine park and a recreationally fished marine park, to assess the efficacy of no-take vs. partial protection. The authors submit that lobster densities were comparable between both marine parks prior to park establishment, but the response of lobster populations differed markedly following protection. They conclude that long-term data from fully fished and partially protected sites suggest long-term declines in lobster populations and reflect regional patterns in catch per unit effort estimates for the fishery. Also, the long-term patterns presented provide an unequivocal example of the recovery of lobster populations in no-take MPAs, but clearly demonstrate that allowing recreational fishing in MPAs has little benefit to populations of exploited species such as J. edwardsii.

Marine Reserves Demonstrate Top-Down Control of Community Structure on Temperate Reefs
Author(s): Nick Shears and Russell Babcock

Replicated ecological studies in marine reserves and associated unprotected areas are valuable in examining top-down impacts on communities and the ecosystem- level effects of fishing. This paper reports on experimental studies undertaken by the authors in two temperate marine reserves to examine these top-down influences on shallow subtidal reef communities in northeastern New Zealand. The authors record that both reserves examined are known to support high densities of predators and tethering experiments showed that the chance of predation on the dominant sea urchin, Evechinus chloroticus, within both reserves was approximately 7 times higher relative to outside. They submit that the patterns observed provide evidence for a top-down role of predators in structuring shallow reef communities in northeastern New Zealand and demonstrate how marine reserves can reverse the indirect effects of fishing and re-establish communitylevel trophic cascades. 

Illuminated or blinded by science? A Discussion Paper
Author(s): Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment

This is a a discussion paper on the role of science in environmental policy and decision-making. The paper begins with a discussion of some of the
underlying assumptions about what policy-making, decision-making and science entails, particularly in relation to environmental management. It goes on to discuss the features of the interface between science and environmental policy and decision-making, exploring some of the issues that determine the need for, and contribution from, science in policy and decisionmaking. It then discusses features of the interface between non-scientific information and environmental policy and decision-making, exploring other sources of information that policy and decision makers need to consider in addition to scientific advice. It also considers capacity and communication issues, and the pressures that environmental policy and decision makers face in fulfilling their roles,
particularly with regard to dealing with uncertainty and knowledge gaps.

Marine Ecological Research in NZ:Developing Predictive Models through the Study of No-Take MRs
Author(s): Tim Langlois

This report considered whether existing conceptual models of population and community structure based only on data from exploited systems lack the baseline information of natural states necessary to make accurate predictions for new reserves. The authors submit that research in New Zealand suggests that it is not yet possible to predict explicit outcomes for newly created reserves and less possible to predict detailed results for systems of reserves. They say that results from a representative system of reserves, including all major habitats within all bioregions and broadly comparable reserves, are needed. Such a system would enable the range and variety of natural ecosystem dynamics to be investigated and provide the controls necessary to measure the effects of exploitation.

Connectivity of Invertebrate Populations on Coastal Reefs: Implications for MPA Design and Research
Author(s): Shane Lavery et al

This is a progress report. This project takes advantage of research currently being undertaken at the University of Auckland into the genetics of a suite of common intertidal and subtidal marine invertebrates and benthic fishes. The authors note that the species that were included into the study are all important components of the lower trophic levels of rocky reef ecosystems. The report notes that as they exhibit a variety of larval dispersal abilities they can therefore be used in comparison as model organisms to investigate the connectivity of rocky reefs at a variety of spatial scales and configurations. Outputs from this project are said to include a detailed review of current knowledge of the connectivity of invertebrate populations on New Zealand coastal rocky reefs, and the implications of these for MPA network design; preliminary analyses of broad and local scales of connectivity of coastal reef systems; and provide advice on further research relevant to the design and management of a representative MPA network.