The Fiordland Marine Guardians’ recent run of recognition has continued, with the group receiving two honours at the 29th Environment Southland Community Awards in Invercargill on 3 October.

The awards, hosted by Environment Southland, celebrate Murihiku Southland’s environmental achievers.

The Guardians and the Deep Cove Outdoor Education Trust received Highly Commended in the ‘Environmental Action in Education’ category for the Fiordland Marine Education Programme.

Receiving the Oceans Guardian Award earlier this month is recognition of the Fiordland Marine Guardians’ (the Guardians) long tradition of environmental stewardship and decades of hard work by many people, the Guardians’ Chair Dr Rebecca McLeod says.

The Guardians received the award at the Seafood Sustainability and Innovation Awards, held at Parliament on 11 September.

Hon Tama Potaka, as acting Minister for the Environment, recently appointed a new Fiordland Marine Guardian and reappointed five existing Guardians. Murray Willans has joined the Guardians, while Rebecca McLeod, Mark Peychers, Stewart Bull, Gavin Tayles and John Cushen have been reappointed. 

Read the full press release [Beehive website].

Marine researchers from around the country travelled to Te Anau in March to take part in the Fiordland Marine Research Symposium. The public event saw the audience treated to the latest findings on a wide range of topics including:

The Fiordland Marine Guardians have welcomed widespread changes to the area’s recreational fishing rules, announced on Wednesday by the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries, Hon. Shane Jones. The new rules take effect on April 25th. The Guardians have advocated strongly for the changes and have been working with the community for several years to define the problems and develop solutions.