Benthic Protection Areas

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The protection of the largest ever area of seabed in the world was announced by the government in April 2007 and came into effect on the 15 November 2007.  

Read the press release "World's largest marine protection areas will exist forever from today" »

The government's decision means that 17 BPAs (Benthic Protection Areas) within the New Zealand EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) are closed to bottom trawl fishing methods, including dredging, in perpetuity. These areas comprise over 1.2million km² of seabed, an area equal to about 30% of the EEZ - more than four times New Zealand itself.

• Other methods of fishing can continue in the BPAs, but under strict regulations.
• There will be no bottom trawling in BPAs.
• Off-bottom trawl fishing is permitted with strict controls: two Ministry-approved observers on board, the vessel is satellite monitored, and an electronic net monitoring system is used so we know exactly where the fishing net is in relation to the bottom at all times.
• To ensure that there is little risk of any gear ever touching the bottom, a buffer zone of 100 metres has been set.  Fishing within 100 metres of the bottom is a criminal offence.
• Furthermore, fishing within 50 metres is deemed to be touching the seabed and is a serious criminal offence, and will attract a fine of $100,000 and the vessel will be seized.
• The commercial fishing industry can keep fishing and earning export dollars but the BPAs initiative addresses the very real concerns that exist about protecting the marine environment.

• The BPAs are representative of a wide range of the marine environment. 
• The BPAs do cover significant parts of New Zealand's current primary classification system: Ministry for the Environment, Marine Environment Classification system (2005):  all oceanic classes are represented by BPAs.  All but one of these classes has more than 10% protected.
• In response to the need for an independent, scientific assessment of New Zealand's marine biodiversity, WWF-New Zealand convened marine scientists for an expert workshop in 2003: The report identified 15 key areas for benthic biodiversity that have more than half their area in the offshore, and BPAs cover nine of them.  Of these nine areas, six of them will be 10 % or more protected.

One of these areas is considered "the most pristine of New Zealand's marine environments".  The WWF report said of another: "In terms of conservation status, vent habitats merit priority because of their uniqueness, restricted range and vulnerability".

• The BPAs do not claim to set aside a portion of each offshore habitat - this requires a classification system that does not yet exist.

• New Zealand was a leading advocate at the United Nations General Assembly for the adoption of High Seas bottom fishing controls.
• BPAs have the same objectives as the UN General Assembly and takes action within the EEZ that is consistent with those objectives.
• The protection of the BPAs follows a more active approach than what is set out by the United Nations  The UN suggests waiting until research is complete before protecting areas.  The BPAs, instead, are based on currently-available information.
• BPAs protect seamounts, hydrothermal vents and cold water corals, each of which were specifically noted by the UN as vulnerable ecosystems.