The New Zealand government is aiming to establish an ocean sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands. The Kermadec Islands are located about 1000km northeast of the North Island.
The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary would cover 620,000 square kilometres – about twice the size of New Zealand’s land area!
It would be off-limits to commercial fishing and aquaculture, recreational fishing and fishing-related tourism, as well as oil and gas mining.
Environment Minister Nick Smith said last week that the sanctuary represented a significant commitment to protecting the ocean environment.
Dr Smith said it would contain about 6 million birds of various species, 35 species of whale and dolphins, three species of turtle and 150 species of fish.
However, Māori fisheries trust Te Ohu Kaimoana is taking legal action against the government.
Chairperson Jamie Tuuta said the government had ignored the impact the sanctuary would have on iwi fishing interests.
The bill establishing the sanctuary passed its first reading in Parliament unanimously last week.
The Sealord deal in 1992 gave fishing rights to Māori, and guaranteed that the Crown would involve Māori in statutory decisions.
Mr Tuuta said that had not happened in this case, and the bill said no compensation would be paid as a result of the change.
8 Responses
I think so to
Wow that’s amazing.Think about it creatures living in a human free paradise!
yes me too.
yeah i think so too
I thought fish were meant to be happy in water guess not???
Yeah Us as maori have rights to fishing by making a sanctuary you are cutting people of there rights to fish there the agreement was already made as the article said but we need to keep that statement a statement
I agree too.
wow i thought fish were supposed to live.