An update from the kūtai / mussel reef restoration project for the Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana / Te Moananui a-Toi
August 2021
Kia ora,
A lot can happen in the space of eight months – our last pānui / newsletter being December. Most importantly, for kūtai / mussel reef restoration, it feels like the planets continue to align.
You might’ve caught the central government’s launch of Revitalising the Hauraki Gulf the long-awaited response to SeaChange – Tai Timu Tai Pari, the community-led geospatial plan project for the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park. We talk about the implications for active restoration. Some of our other news is a bit dated but still worth dining out on: progress on Consent and Biosecurity.
We’ll aim to make these pānui a bit more regularly from here on thanks to a few more resources coming our way.
Mauri ora!
- The Revive Our Gulf project team
Government’s ‘Revitalising the Gulf’ plan a great starting point that will aid regeneration
Central Government released its Revitalising the Gulf strategy in response to the work published back in 2016 on the Sea Change – Tai Timu Tai Pari geospatial plan for the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park. The plan will put an end to recreational scallop dredging, freeze existing commercial scallop dredging areas (unless they find new beds) and designate corridors for destructive bottom trawling. Changes to marine protection include 11 new High Protection Areas, 5 Seafloor Protection Areas and extensions to Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine (Goat Island) and Te Whanganui-a-Hei (Hahei) marine reserves.
Auckland Council gives the green light to green-lipped mussel restoration
Early this year we secured a 35 year consent with Auckland Council for sub-tidal mussel reef restoration. This permits us to work at depths between 5-25m on soft sediment, building mussel beds for cultural, scientific, restoration or enhancement purposes. An adaptive management approach means we submit our work plans annually, along with a 5 yr long term plan.
A recovering mussel / kūtai reef. Photo by Shaun Lee.
Biosecurity NZ introduces dedicated “risk framework” for mussel reef restoration
Biosecurity NZ released a draft risk assessment and a framework for assessing mussel restoration activities in September 2020. It’s a complete game changer for us in terms of gaining biosecurity approval to plant mussels.
Previously a strict interpretation of Section 52 of the Biosecurity Act 1993 meant getting a permit to move mussels from one place to another was complex and time-consuming, and didn’t take into consideration the natural dispersal range of unwanted organisms that are abundant across the Gulf. If a permit was issued it would typically require treatment of the mussels, submerging them in fresh water for 90 minutes to kill unwanted organisms like Mediterranean Fanworm (pictured) - increasing costs and not great for mussels.
Under the new risk framework this all changes, the risk is now assessed based on the conditions of both where the mussels come from and where they are going to. This has really streamlined and sped up the process of gaining biosecurity consents. Thanks MPI / Biosecurity NZ!
Mediterranean Fanworm (Sabella spallanzanii). Photo by Shaun Lee.
Hauraki Gulf Regeneration Fund luncheon at the Outboard Boating Club
Around 100 people gathered for lunch in the Outboard Boating Club clubrooms on Tāmaki Drive, June 22. Organised by Auckland Foundation to promote the purpose behind its Hauraki Gulf Regeneration Fund, the event was both a top-to-bottom deep-dive into the plight of the Hauraki Gulf from a scientific, social and cultural point of view, and a solid call to action - act now and help reverse the decline.
Television broadcaster and presenter of the fishing documentary show Fish of the Day, Clarke Gayford speaks at the reception. Photo: Shaun Lee.
Other news
Orca alert – if you live between Northland to Tauranga keep your eyes peeled for orca over the next couple of months. Underwater cameraman and producer, Steve Hathaway is filming an international documentary and needs footage of our orca. If you spot one, please call 0800 FILM UW
How do you build a seaweed economy? In 2018, the global seaweed sector was valued at more than $13 billion USD and with the right frame grounded in ecosystem-based management (EBM) principles, a thriving seaweed sector could be possible in Aotearoa New Zealand. National Science Challenges
Marlborough's wild mussel restoration project showing promising signs – after the first year of experimentation, a mussel restoration project based in the Pelorus sounds is showing high survival rates and low predation. Stuff
Restorative marine economies – a research project conducted by NIWA, EnviroStrat, University of Canterbury, Massey University and University of Auckland is looking at how to build restorative economies in Aotearoa’s coastal and marine spaces. National Sciences Challenge
Dive into Conservation Week – this Conservation Week (4th - 12th September) get involved in a citizen science project, take part in a beach clean up or dive into your big blue backyard. Department of Conservation.
How can I help?
Spread the news, stay in touch and tell your friends about our work in restoring the mussel beds. To help us continue our work and expand our programme of work, make a donation!
