Welcome

The West Coast of New Zealand's South Island features a wonderful and diverse marine environment.

This forum is run by local people to examine ways to protect our marine habitats and ecosystems on the West Coast.

A wide range of representatives make up the forum, including: community members, fishers, tangata whenua, conservation groups and local authorities.

The forum will discuss the Coast's role in maintaining New Zealand's marine habitats and ecosystems in a healthy, functioning state beyond 2020. Its objective is to implement the Marine Protected Areas Policy by establishing in consultation with communities, some recommendations on a network of Marine Protected Areas for the West Coast.

Recommendations

The forum has now completed its considerations and has presented a recommendation report to the Minsiter of Conservation and Minister of Aquaculture and Fisheries. It undestands that the Ministers are seeking advice from their officials on these recommendations.

A PDF version of the recommendations can be downloaded by clickig the link below.

Recommendation Report to Ministers

 

Click here to go to the proposals page to dowload the consultation document and maps of the proposed MPA sites.

 

Visit the Department of Conservation's marine homepageVisit the Ministry of Fisheries Marine Protected Areas site Visit the Biodiversity New Zealand website