Marine Reserves for New Zealand

Forest and Bird, Volume 22, Issue 4, 1 November 1991, Page 53

Marine Reserves for New Zealand

Reviews by

Mark Bellingham

by Bill Ballantine (University of Auckland) THIS BOOK CARRIES a health warning: "Marine reserves are addictive and can affect your health. People who have them do not want to give them up. They start clamouring for more. The side effects are serious. People infected with the idea become

interested, enthusiastic, active, knowledgeable, healthy and impatient with silly arguments and no-hopers. . .". Bill Ballantine has gained an international reputation as a leading advocate for marine reserves, and in this outstanding new book he brings together his ideas, strategies and experiences. The 190 pages of information brings together the lessons from Bill’s lifelong work on marine protection here and overseas, and, in particular, from his experiences in establishing the now famous Leigh Marine Reserve north of Auckland. As John Morton points out in the foreword, strong citizen input is needed to get marine reserves. The need for public support and action runs through the book. Recently, Dr Ballantine welcomed the fishing industry's view that there needs to be a balance over marine reserves. He was happy to settle for the protection of only 10 percent of the New Zealand coastline. "But if its balance they want then. . ." This book has almost everything you need to know about marine reserves, how to answer the critics, and the process to follow in establishing a marine reserve in your region. Available from Forest and Bird’s Wellington shop and mail-order for $15 + $3 p&p.