A collaboration between Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Tama and DOC will investigate a local population of one of New Zealand's iconic marine species - the kōura/spiny red rock lobster.
Commonly known as crayfish, Jasus edwardsii are a keystone species in our coastal environment, playing an essential role in maintaining ecosystem health. However, they come under significant pressure from commercial and recreational fishing.
DOC Marine Reserves Ranger Oscar Cotter says the monitoring project off the north Taranaki coast will compare kōura abundance, size, sex ratio and health inside the Parininihi Marine Reserve and several points outside the protected area.
"Kōura are a key indicator species in determining the success of marine reserves DOC is responsible for," Oscar says.
"In marine reserves like Parininihi they are fully protected and able to recover from fishing impacts. In marine reserves people can see our marine life and fish species as nature intended. They are great places for people to enjoy naturing in our oceans and learn about the species that live there."
Oscar says the three days of field work for the project is scheduled to begin on 1 December. The project will see cray pots placed at 50 specific locations inside the marine reserve, and a further 50 points outside it. All kōura will be returned to the sea once they've been measured and details recorded.
"We'll be using a commercial vessel for this work – and as the boat will be inside the marine reserve, we wanted to proactively inform local residents and boaties.
"Parininihi Marine Reserve is significant to the communities of the area, and DOC and Ngati Tama feel it's important to alert residents to the work so there are no concerns or confusion about the commercial vehicle appearing to be harvesting koura in the marine reserve."
Troy Tawhiao, Kaitiaki Taiao, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Tama, says: "Through this kōura survey, Ngāti Tama shares our mātauranga and strengthens our connection to Parininihi as kaitiaki. It also helps us educate our uri and wider community about the health of our moana."
DOC staff and Ngāti Tama representatives will be on board the vessel at all times during the field work, which is reliant on good weather and sea conditions.
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