South gets its chance to enjoy marine reserves

For 40 years, thousands of people have enjoyed Auckland marine reserves - now South Islanders and their visitors can look forward to similar pleasures.

Five marine reserves, dotted over 450km of coast from south of Haast to north of Karamea, were added to our protected waters network this month.

Conservation Minister Nick Smith has described them as a great result for conservation.

"These reserves will allow the preservation and management of interconnected ecosystems from the mountains to the ocean," he said.

While the primary purpose of marine reserves is to protect and enhance coastal environments, they also provide exciting new playgrounds for those who love the sea.

For instance, the Goat Island reserve at Leigh, established in 1975, attracts 300,000 visitors a year.

Surface swimming, snorkelling and scuba-diving, or viewing sea creatures and kelp beds from the comfort of a glass-bottomed boat are among the ways the underwater environment can be enjoyed.

For a marine reserve to nurture fish stocks, protective legislation must be strictly adhered to.

This year, several visitors to the Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve found this out to their cost, when their illegal fishing resulted in court appearances.

But marine protection can take many forms and doesn't always involve "no take" zones.

DoC is working with the Ministry of Primary Industries and communities around New Zealand to establish a range of protected areas that will ensure permanent public access to healthy, thriving coastal waters.