NEW ZEALAND | New tools have to tackle kina Barrens have been announced by Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones.
Increasing the recreational daily catch limit for kina around the northeastern North Island and a new special permit to remove kina will help tackle kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones said.
Local barrens are areas of rocky reef where healthy kelp forests have been consumed by an overpopulation of the long-spined sea urchins to form a barren space that is detrimental to other sea life.
“I’ve made addressing kina barrens a priority, and it’s clear from the feedback received on these measures that many New Zealanders share my concerns,” said Jones.
“My decision to increase the recreational daily catch limit for the Auckland East Fisheries management area to 150 and approve a new special permit that will allow targeted removal of kina will enable communities to get involved in combatting this issue.”
The new recreational daily limit will take effect on the 1st of August, 2024, and the special permit is now available for applications. Both the daily limit and special permit apply to long-spined sea urchins and kina.
“These measures won’t fix the barrens immediately, or on their own, but they will give people more tools to take on kina barrens in their rohe and greater ownership over the health of their coastline.”
The new recreational daily limit of 150 per fisher will apply along the North Island’s east coast from North Cape in Northland to Cape Runaway in the Bay of Plenty. This is the Auckland East Fisheries management area.
The special permit allows for people or organisations to harvest, cull, or move kina to help with habitat restoration or to prevent the barrens from developing.
Permits will go through an application process, including providing evidence of a current or potential barren in the area before approval. Special permits can be applied for in any part of New Zealand.
“This is not the end of the work I will do on kina barrens, and I have directed my officials to expand our scientific knowledge of the problem and investigate further options for dealing with it," said Jones.
“I’d like to acknowledge everyone who took the time to provide feedback on these measures, as well as the hundreds of people who joined me in person to discuss kina barrens in Northland. I’m confident that together we can tackle kina barrens and restore our coasts with healthy kelp forests that support biodiversity and thriving kaimoana.”
