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Otago Daily Times
12-05-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Environment changes at heart of deaths, penguin trust says
Unexplained mortalities where yellow-eyed penguins "seem to drop dead out of the blue" have been blamed on harmful environmental changes, prompting the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust to endorse a co-ordinated response to the future health of Otago's coastline. Otago's coast was experiencing "some of the most intense ocean warming" anywhere in New Zealand, according to the Environmental Defence Society (EDS), which last week released a 52-page report focused on the Otago coast as part of its ongoing project to develop concrete recommendations for reform of New Zealand's oceans management system. Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust general manager Anna Campbell said the report demonstrated the need to better manage cumulative impacts on the Otago coast. "We have been monitoring yellow-eyed penguins [hoiho] along the Otago coast for nearly four decades. "These penguins are special indicators of ocean health and in recent years our team have seen a number of unexplained mortalities where hoiho seem to drop dead out of the blue. "Whilst this season our programme has succeeded in raising up to 75% of chicks to fledge, most of them will not return home to breed and will be lost at sea. "We endorse the EDS report's conclusion that hoiho deaths are the effects of the harmful environmental changes." She said the trust was "deeply concerned" about the proposed national standard for wastewater discharge, as well as harmful, fast-tracked initiatives which bypassed community consultation. "Government approvals which further degrade the marine environment could be the most significant contributing factor to the plight of the hoiho in Aotearoa," she said. Report author and EDS policy director Raewyn Peart said the effects of climate change were more extreme off the Otago coast than would otherwise be the case, because they came on top of existing pressures on the marine environment, including sedimentation and the impacts of fishing activity. "Keystone species such as bull and bladder kelp are suffering badly, with likely cascading impacts for other marine life," she said. Endemic species such as Hector's dolphin, hoiho and Otago shag were now threatened with extinction, "thought to be partly due to depletion of their preferred fish prey". "Exotic plantation forests, which have been identified as a major cause of sedimentation along the coast, are increasing in extent." Ms Peart said the Otago Regional Council's attempts to apply more rigorous rules to the sector had been "stymied" by recent amendments to the Resource Management Act.
Otago Daily Times
07-05-2025
- Science
- Otago Daily Times
'Intense ocean warming' on Otago coast
Otago's coast is experiencing ''some of the most intense ocean warming'' anywhere in New Zealand and a co-ordinated response is required to ensure its future health, a national environmental protection advocacy group says. The Environmental Defence Society (EDS) yesterday released a 52-page report focused on the Otago coast as part of its ongoing project to develop concrete recommendations for reform of New Zealand's oceans management system. Report author and EDS policy director Raewyn Peart said the effects of climate change were more extreme here than would otherwise be the case, because they came on top of existing pressures on the marine environment including sedimentation and the impacts of fishing activity. ''The area is subject to some of the most intense ocean warming experienced anywhere in the country, and keystone species such as bull and bladder kelp are suffering badly, with likely cascading impacts for other marine life. ''The future health of Otago's coastal marine area will depend on the implementation of an integrated strategy that effectively deals with these cumulative pressures.'' Her report, one of a series of case studies, followed from a 2021-22 project that reviewed issues with present marine protections and developed options for reform such as new models for spatial protection, integrated management and legislative design. Her examination of the issues in Otago included a literature review as well as confidential interviews with 12 people involved in the area, including Fisheries New Zealand and the Otago Regional Council staff, University of Otago and Niwa scientists, representatives from the commercial and recreational fishing sectors, a Māori consultant and a seabird conservationist. The report provides an overview of the present state of the environment and an examination of ''two key challenges'', namely sedimentation and spatial marine protection. Sedimentation, which would likely increase with climate change due to more intense storm events, could smother pāua, increase larval mortality and reduce suitable substrate for settlement. It also affected kelp forests, causing ''coastal darkening'' and hindering photosynthesis. ''There is also evidence of sedimentation directly impacting estuaries.'' The creation of the proposed marine protected areas had stalled due to legal proceedings, she said. An update of the regional coastal plan by the Otago Regional Council was not expected before mid-2028 when there could be a different regulatory framework for coastal planning in place. Fisheries New Zealand also recently released guidance on protecting habitats of significance to fisheries management but has yet to identify particular to the Otago coast.
Otago Daily Times
06-05-2025
- Science
- Otago Daily Times
Response urged to ensure future of coast
Otago's coast is experiencing ''some of the most intense ocean warming'' anywhere in New Zealand and a co-ordinated response is required to ensure its future health, a national environmental protection advocacy group says. The Environmental Defence Society (EDS) yesterday released a 52-page report focused on the Otago coast as part of its ongoing project to develop concrete recommendations for reform of New Zealand's oceans management system. Report author and EDS policy director Raewyn Peart said the effects of climate change were more extreme here than would otherwise be the case, because they came on top of existing pressures on the marine environment including sedimentation and the impacts of fishing activity. ''The area is subject to some of the most intense ocean warming experienced anywhere in the country, and keystone species such as bull and bladder kelp are suffering badly, with likely cascading impacts for other marine life. ''The future health of Otago's coastal marine area will depend on the implementation of an integrated strategy that effectively deals with these cumulative pressures.'' Her report, one of a series of case studies, followed from a 2021-22 project that reviewed issues with present marine protections and developed options for reform such as new models for spatial protection, integrated management and legislative design. Her examination of the issues in Otago included a literature review as well as confidential interviews with 12 people involved in the area, including Fisheries New Zealand and the Otago Regional Council staff, University of Otago and Niwa scientists, representatives from the commercial and recreational fishing sectors, a Māori consultant and a seabird conservationist. The report provides an overview of the present state of the environment and an examination of ''two key challenges'', namely sedimentation and spatial marine protection. Sedimentation, which would likely increase with climate change due to more intense storm events, could smother pāua, increase larval mortality and reduce suitable substrate for settlement. It also affected kelp forests, causing ''coastal darkening'' and hindering photosynthesis. ''There is also evidence of sedimentation directly impacting estuaries.'' The creation of the proposed marine protected areas had stalled due to legal proceedings, she said. An update of the regional coastal plan by the Otago Regional Council was not expected before mid-2028 when there could be a different regulatory framework for coastal planning in place. Fisheries New Zealand also recently released guidance on protecting habitats of significance to fisheries management but has yet to identify particular to the Otago coast.
Scoop
06-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
EDS Report Highlights Need To Better Manage Cumulative Impacts On The Otago Coast
Press Release – Environmental Defence Society The Environmental Defence Society (EDS) today released a report on the Otago Coast titled Oceans Management in a Changing Climate. The case study is part of EDS's Oceans Project which is developing concrete recommendations for oceans management reform. 'The Otago coastal area has extraordinary marine biodiversity as a result of its unique biophysical characteristics,' said case study author and EDS Policy Director Raewyn Peart. 'It features abundant krill, extensive kelp forests and rare bryozoan thickets. 'However, the area is subject to some of the most intense ocean warming experienced anywhere in the country. Keystone species such as bull and bladder kelp are suffering badly with cascading impacts on other marine life. 'The effects of climate change on the Otago coast are more extreme than would otherwise be the case, because they overlay existing pressures on the marine environment including sedimentation and the impacts of fishing activity. 'Wildlife tourism is an important component of the Otago economy but endemic species such as the Hector's dolphin, Hoiho and Otago shag are now threatened with extinction. This is thought to be partly due to depletion of their preferred fish prey. 'Exotic plantation forests, which have been identified as a major cause of sedimentation along the coast, are increasing in extent. But the Otago Regional Council's attempts to apply more rigorous rules to the sector have been stymied by recent amendments to the Resource Management Act. 'Spatial protection efforts in the marine area have been exceedingly slow and have yet reached fruition. Although the Fisheries Act has contained a requirement to protect habitats of significance to fisheries management since 1996, Fisheries New Zealand only this year released guidance on the topic, and it has yet to identify (let alone protect) significant habitats on the Otago coast. 'The revised New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement, which came into force in 2010, contains a strong directive for councils to protect significant indigenous biological diversity in the marine area, but the Otago Regional Council has yet to do so. The Council recently identified more than 100 significant marine areas, but it does not plan to notify provisions to protect them before mid 2028. 'It is over a decade since the South-East Marine Protection Forum was first established to identify a network of marine reserves along the Otago coast. Although six marine reserves were recently approved by government, implementation has now stalled due to legal proceedings. 'The East Otago Taiāpure provides an excellent example of how of how rūnanga and local communities can work together to better manage their local marine areas. Such initiatives need to be more strongly supported. 'The future health of Otago's coastal marine area will depend on the implementation of an integrated strategy that effectively deals with cumulative pressures on the marine environment. 'This could be achieved through the development of an integrated marine spatial plan or similar. Such a collaborative exercise could be undertaken under the auspices of the Otago Biosphere Reserve, should that initiative proceed,' concluded Ms Peart. Limited hard copies of the report will be available at EDS's Auckland Oceans Symposium next week (12 May). An online version is available here.
Scoop
06-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
EDS Report Highlights Need To Better Manage Cumulative Impacts On The Otago Coast
The Environmental Defence Society (EDS) today released a report on the Otago Coast titled Oceans Management in a Changing Climate. The case study is part of EDS's Oceans Project which is developing concrete recommendations for oceans management reform. 'The Otago coastal area has extraordinary marine biodiversity as a result of its unique biophysical characteristics,' said case study author and EDS Policy Director Raewyn Peart. 'It features abundant krill, extensive kelp forests and rare bryozoan thickets. 'However, the area is subject to some of the most intense ocean warming experienced anywhere in the country. Keystone species such as bull and bladder kelp are suffering badly with cascading impacts on other marine life. 'The effects of climate change on the Otago coast are more extreme than would otherwise be the case, because they overlay existing pressures on the marine environment including sedimentation and the impacts of fishing activity. 'Wildlife tourism is an important component of the Otago economy but endemic species such as the Hector's dolphin, Hoiho and Otago shag are now threatened with extinction. This is thought to be partly due to depletion of their preferred fish prey. 'Exotic plantation forests, which have been identified as a major cause of sedimentation along the coast, are increasing in extent. But the Otago Regional Council's attempts to apply more rigorous rules to the sector have been stymied by recent amendments to the Resource Management Act. Advertisement - scroll to continue reading 'Spatial protection efforts in the marine area have been exceedingly slow and have yet reached fruition. Although the Fisheries Act has contained a requirement to protect habitats of significance to fisheries management since 1996, Fisheries New Zealand only this year released guidance on the topic, and it has yet to identify (let alone protect) significant habitats on the Otago coast. 'The revised New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement, which came into force in 2010, contains a strong directive for councils to protect significant indigenous biological diversity in the marine area, but the Otago Regional Council has yet to do so. The Council recently identified more than 100 significant marine areas, but it does not plan to notify provisions to protect them before mid 2028. 'It is over a decade since the South-East Marine Protection Forum was first established to identify a network of marine reserves along the Otago coast. Although six marine reserves were recently approved by government, implementation has now stalled due to legal proceedings. 'The East Otago Taiāpure provides an excellent example of how of how rūnanga and local communities can work together to better manage their local marine areas. Such initiatives need to be more strongly supported. 'The future health of Otago's coastal marine area will depend on the implementation of an integrated strategy that effectively deals with cumulative pressures on the marine environment. 'This could be achieved through the development of an integrated marine spatial plan or similar. Such a collaborative exercise could be undertaken under the auspices of the Otago Biosphere Reserve, should that initiative proceed,' concluded Ms Peart. Limited hard copies of the report will be available at EDS's Auckland Oceans Symposium next week (12 May). An online version is available here. Environmental Defence Society EDS speaks for the environment. It has influence. Since 1971, EDS has been driving environmental protection in Aotearoa New Zealand through law and policy change. That's why it's one of this country's most influential non- profit organisations when it comes to achieving better environmental outcomes. EDS has expertise in key disciplines including law, planning, landscape and science. It operates as a policy think-tank, a litigation advocate, and a collaborator – bringing together the private and public sectors for constructive engagement. EDS runs conferences and seminars on topical issues, including an annual Environmental Summit and the Climate Change and Business Conference. EDS is a registered charity and donations to it are tax-deductible.
