Important island sanctuary

Forest and Bird, Volume 14, Issue 6, 1 May 1983, Page 5

Important island sanctuary

—David G. Collingwood

This article by R. M. Lockley is correct and timely, and the President has already made a strong submission from the Society against the permitting of moorings in the Snares. The important factor is that we are dealing with a notable fishery surrounding one of the most important island sanctuaries in the world. The mooring permits have now run out for this season, which enables further submissions to be made, and Society members should, if they feel so inclined, write to the Minister of Fisheries and to the Minister of Lands, emphasising the Society’s and their own concern. A marine reserve must be declared around the Snares Islands and encompass at least a 10-km minimum distance from the shore. This is a matter for the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and its Minister. The islands already are nature reserves under the supervision of the Department of Lands and Survey, and such a marine reserve would tend to prevent the possibility of illegal landings and the consequent danger of rats. There must therefore be a meaningful policing of the area with fishery protection boats, and with such an important responsibility laid on New Zealand to protect this unique island sactuary, this means a constant presence in the area, and expenditure on special protection vessels must be incurred. It is an island group of scientific importance, and the need to maintain and house a shore-based party of scientist rangers must be met to safeguard the fragile ecosystem that exists there. Since | wrote the above the Director-General of Lands has told me that shortly he will release for public comment’a draft management plan for the Snares Islands nature reserve. With it will be an issues paper to cover the implications of the surrounding fishery to the management of the nature reserve. The decision to approach the question in this way and invite public comment on both the draft plan and the issues involved follows consultation between the National Parks and Reserves Authority and the Director-General of Lands at

the Authority’s meeting on 7 April.