By RNZ

After a public outcry, the Government is imposing a two-year ban on taking shellfish from rockpools north of Auckland.

The ban is for all of the Whangaparāoa Peninsula, and further north at Kawau Bay and Ōmaha Bay.

Locals have said more people are taking sea life and beaches were being stripped bare.

Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones said on Sunday most people did the right thing “and gather only what is appropriate and legal”, but others were exploiting and collapsing ecosystems.

The ban will take effect from March 12 and will be enforced by fishery officers.

Oceans and Fisheries Under-Secretary Jenny Marcroft said officials “have been directed to explore how community volunteers can be supported to encourage visitors to do the right thing”.

Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced the Government is imposing a two-year ban on taking shellfish from rockpools north of Auckland. Photo / Mike Scott

“Fisheries New Zealand will also develop multilingual educational material to support this closure and the ongoing management of intertidal fisheries.”

Last year, the Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust applied for a two-year legal ban on harvesting all shellfish and seaweed from rock pools along Auckland’s eastern coastline, from the Rodney Local Board area through to the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board area, under Section 186A of the Fisheries Act.

The Government in January said it was seeking urgent advice on the matter.

Fisheries worked with the Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust, Jones said, to enact a traditional rāhui.

“My decision excludes some of the species and areas requested by Ngāti Manuhiri where existing closures and restrictions apply.”

All seaweed, invertebrate and shellfish were covered, he said, as well as sponges, starfish, anemone and sea cucumbers.

Spiny rock lobster and scallops were already covered by existing closures.

Sea urchin (kina) were excluded “and can still be taken within the current recreational fishing limits”.

“I decided to allow kina to continue to be taken as managing kina barrens is a priority for me. Officials will continue to actively monitor and manage kina population.”

The closure did not apply to any aquaculture activities, such as marine farming or the collection of spat (small juvenile shellfish), Jones and Marcroft said.

“It’s important that these coastal management restrictions do not impact on marine farming and the aquaculture development so it can continue to support our economy and provide jobs in our communities,” Jones said.

The Hauraki Gulf Forum welcomed the closures.

More details were posted on the Ministry for Primary Industries website.

– RNZ