Blueprint drawn up for national park at sea

Planning is under way to create New Zealand's first marine national park off Northland's east coast.

The 1800sq km park, running north from Whangarei Heads to Cape Brett, would not be as restrictive as a marine reserve.

Recreational fishing would be allowed throughout 90 per cent of its area, but commercial fishing would be banned.

The concept originated from the Northland Conservation Board which wants feedback on the initiative from economic, social, cultural and environmentally sustainable viewpoints.

A proposal is now being floated by Jeroen Jongejans a director of Northland diving charter company Dive! Tutukaka, who is to present the plan and an accompanying discussion document to a Northland Regional Council meeting in Whangarei today.

Mr Jongejans said yesterday the park would be several steps down in environmental and fish stock protection levels from a formally designated marine reserve.

"We've seen issues around the proposed [Department of Conservation] reserve for Mimiwhangata and wherever a marine reserve is proposed, it seems to engender a lot of controversy.

"What we're proposing could be a blueprint for other places. It's about a level of protection for the marine environment and increasing fish stocks.

"We have national parks on land so why not at sea?"

The park discussion document suggests that recreational fishing would still be allowed over 1620sq km but with allowable catches of only half normal bag limits.

The 180sq km no-take zone would include the existing 20sq km Mimiwhangata no-take area and the current 24sq km area around the Poor Knights Islands.

Mr Jongejans said the rules would have to be simple.

There were also likely to be employment spin-offs through fishing, tourist and other charter operators working the area, as well as shore-based eco-enterprises supplementing the park's attractions.

Details of who would manage a park have not yet been decided and will be one of a number of issues still to be discussed in talks with the Department of Conservation, Ministry of Fisheries, Ngatiwai and other coastal hapu, Whangarei District Council, commercial and recreational fishers, charter operators and tourism representatives.

A public meeting may also be called to consider the proposal.

The regional council's manager of planning and policy, Glenn Mortimer, is recommending to today's council meeting that the marine national park concept should be supported in principle.

But he notes that for the proposal to advance, it would need support from DoC, the ministry and the district council.