May 2008 – UPDATE

Subantarctic Marine Protection Planning Forum

The Subantarctic Marine Protection Planning Forum was convened in February 2008 under the Marine Protected Areas Policy and Implementation Plan to develop recommendations for marine protection for the Subantarctic Islands Region.

For more information on the Forum please see the Terms of Reference (PDF).

This project will be carried out in two phases. Phase One is in progress and is timed to be completed by August 2008; it looks at protection options within the territorial seas around Campbell, Bounties and Antipodes islands. Phase Two will follow at a later stage and look at protection in the EEZ in the remainder of the subantarctic region.

Information and maps

Here is what is thought to be the best available information supporting the MPA classification for this region:

Marine Protection for the New Zealand Subantarctic Islands: A background resource document

This publication on the Department of Conservation website leads the information base for this project.

Bibliography: Subantarctic Islands Marine Biogeographic Region (PDF)

This is a compilation of references recognised by the Forum.

Subantarctic Region Marine Protected Area Classification maps and supporting material (PDF, 4555K), Low resolution version (PDF, 1769K)

These maps represent the best known available information on depth, substrate and exposure for the Subantarctic Region. In the case of exposure in the immediate nearshore around the islands, anecdotal evidence from scientists and others who have visited and are familiar with the islands has been used to deduce estimated exposure in terms of the classes set out in the classification.

Subantarctic Regional Marine Protection Planning Forum analysis of protection tools (PDF)

This is an inventory of existing protection tools.

Classification of Nearshore Marine Environment (PDF)

This classifies the Subantarctic Islands marine environments and includes a gaps analysis.

The marine ecosystem of New Zealand's subantarctic islands and their surrounding plateaus - NIWA report by John D. Booth

This report synthesises existing knowledge on the structure and function, risks to the biota, and usage of the marine ecosystem of the southern plateau, with particular focus on conservation values and diversity within the territorial sea of the Auckland, Campbell, Antipodes and Bounty Islands. It also identifies gaps in knowledge of the area's marine ecosystem.

You can request a CD of this report from mpa@biodiversity.govt.nz

Request for additional information

Additional information related to these classification layers (depth, substrate and exposure) as well as any anecdotal information of the physical and biological nature of the seas around the subantarctic islands would be gratefully received, email mpa@biodiversity.govt.nz

Last revised 2/06/08