Plan to protect and enhance Waikato’s marine areas

Aug 11

From: Voxy.co.nz

Waikato’s popular marine areas will be protected and enhanced for the future by a new plan about to get underway, the Waikato Regional Council heard yesterday.

The Policy and Strategy Committee yesterday directed council staff to begin preparation of a Regional Waikato Marine Strategy and scope collaborative options for developing a marine spatial plan for the Hauraki Gulf.

Committee chairperson Paula Southgate said the Waikato’s marine areas were among the region’s most heavily used natural resources.

“They have significant regional importance in terms of amenity and economic potential and we want to ensure we retain and enhance these areas for the future,” Cr Southgate said.

“There are lots of competing interests for our marine areas, from boaties to commercial and recreational fishers, divers to swimmers, and seafood gathering. They are also a rich source of seafood for everyone, including tangata whenua.

“The work that’s going to be undertaken integrates with existing work carried out by the council, such as Shore Futures and Coromandel Blueprint.

“Development of a regional marine strategy will also inform the council’s Long Term Plan works programme, prioritise existing projects and identify knowledge gaps,” she said.

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Aquarium of the Pacific Leads 1st Attempt to Apply Obama Administration’s Ocean Planning to Southern California

Aug 01

From: Press Release

The Aquarium of the Pacific and USC Sea Grant gathered leading national experts in the first attempt to apply coastal and marine spatial planning (CMSP) to the waters off Southern California. The Obama Administration interagency Ocean Policy Task Force recommends planning the allocation of the ocean through this process. Other countries have adopted CMSP, but in the U.S. only Massachusetts and Rhode Island have implemented it.

The Aquarium of the Pacific wants California to take the West Coast lead. “Through proper planning, we can improve the quality of the ocean and enhance our economy. By allocating uses we can cluster compatible activities, and keep them away from sensitive biological populations,” said Dr. Jerry R. Schubel, Aquarium of the Pacific president.

The experts involved represented the conservation, scientific, government, and commercial sectors. They agreed that as the population grows and economic and ecosystem pressures increase, the need for management of human activity and protection of marine life will be paramount.

Charles “Bud” Ehler, president of Ocean Visions Consulting and marine spatial planning consultant to UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, noted that some ocean areas are sensitive, while others may be more appropriate for human uses. He continued saying that spatial allocation is a sensible approach as new ocean uses, such as offshore wind farms and other industries, enter the picture.

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