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This report is the product from a habitat investigation of the Doubtless Bay area completed in April - June 2005. The authors conclude that the marine habitats of Doubtless Bay are typical of those generally on the Northland east coast, but the large area of low reef in the central part of the Bay is a special feature which may have value as a nursery area for fish. The extensive occurrence of kina barrens suggests that snapper and crayfish have been seriously depleted. The authors recommended that the report and maps should be used widely to promote awareness within the community of the marine values of Doubtless Bay, and to foster moves toward improved management including establishment of marine protected areas and marine reserves as the central core of any restoration programme. Monitoring at a few key sites could involve the local community. The complexity and diversity of habitats represented in Doubtless Bay suggest that the area is an ideal candidate site for some form of marine protection.
