New Zealand (Commonwealth Union) – Marine sustainability is matter of concern, particularly for nations surrounded by the ocean. Residing in a country of islands, New Zealanders are passionate about collecting seafood, but Distinguished Professor David Schiel from the University of Canterbury’s (UC) School of Biological Sciences warns of the consequences with the summer of destruction for Kaikōura’s pāua (Māori name for snails) population, together with more strain on marine species.
Kaikōura is a town in the countries South Island.
Professor Schiel, is set to deliver a free public talk to go over the challenges and look into solutions for sustainable seas at the opening of the Tītohu Tūroa Sustainability Showcase on 28 October at UC which will host a series of environmental talks. He stressed on the need to improve if we have in mind sustainability collectively as a society, also stating the need to realize where the issues are and the areas that are manageable and if we have a desire to leave something for the next generations.
A challenge he will focus at the showcase will be the “absolute pillage of the pāua fishery” which had been shut down for 5 years due to post-earthquake destruction to Kaikōura’s seabed. Recreational fishing has led to an additional 38 tonnes of pāua over the allocation of 5 tonne. At 3000 pāua to a tonne, that’s overfishing of some 114,000 pāua, a species that needs 8 years to be harvestable.
Professor Schiel also said: “There was not enough management. We warned officials, but it was just open slather, and it took an additional seven years’ worth of pāua out of that environment”, and added that overly enthusiastic and at times illegal seafood gathering is not the only issue the marine species are facing as warming seas, marine heatwaves and land-based activities also cause risk.
