EBFM in the Hauraki Gulf

In moving towards a holistic, inclusive, and integrated approach to managing the marine environment in Aotearoa New Zealand, an important step is for our fisheries to be managed using an ecosystem-based fisheries management approach (EBFM).  

The Government's Revitalising the Gulf strategy is a coordinated package of recommendations to restore the health and mauri of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park, released in June 2021 (see our expert comment). It outlines 8 themes: fisheries, habitat restoration, aquaculture, biosecurity, marine protection, protected species, ahu moana, and governance.

In response to the fisheries theme, Fisheries NZ and DOC are developing a draft Hauraki Gulf Fisheries Plan that seeks to progress EBFM approaches. We are working together to co-develop a project proposal for a case study of fisheries indicators and monitoring framework (Stage 1). 

To assess the overall ecosystem health of the Hauraki Gulf, and determine if and how the Fisheries Plan is progressing us towards our goals for EBFM, first socially acceptable indicators must be selected that most accurately reflect the status of the fishery and ecosystem in the marine park. These indicators need to monitor the status of fisheries and other cultural, socio-economic and ecosystem components of value to iwi and stakeholders.