The Minister for the Environment is seeking nominations for members of the Fiordland Marine Guardians (the Guardians).
The Guardians are an advisory group established by the Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) Marine Management Act 2005. They are responsible for providing advice to Ministers, government departments, and Environment Southland on the management of the Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) Marine Area (FMA).
In May 2022 researchers from my research group, who were working in Fiordland noticed something very unusual in the shallow waters of Te Puaitaha/Breaksea Sound, thousands of the ‘bleached’ white sponges. On closer inspection the sponges were all the same species, the cup sponge Cymastella lamellata, and this bleaching event was subsequently confirmed throughout Tamatea/Dusky, Te Puaitaha/Breaksea and Doubtful/Patea Sounds, and is likely to have occurred throughout the wider Fiordland Marine Area (FMA).
Are you interested in the underwater sounds of Fiordland's marine environment? Do you operate a vessel in the FMA, and would you be interested in supporting acoustic research?
Researchers from the universities of Otago and Waikato are seeking help with accessing remote locations in the FMA for the deployment and servicing of acoustic underwater recorders.
In November, the Guardians travelled to Wellington to deliver their recommendations to Hon. David Parker, the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, regarding changes to the amateur fishing regulations in the Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) Marine Area.
