From Saturday, October 25, new marine protection areas come into effect across the Hauraki Gulf, creating safe zones for marine life to recover and flourish.

The Department of Conservation (DOC) will oversee 19 new protected areas across the Gulf, including locations east of the Coromandel Peninsula.

DOC Operations Manager Marine, Kirsty Prior, says the focus this summer is on helping people understand the new boundaries and what they mean.

“We’ve got a new team of marine rangers, community rangers and seasonal staff gearing up for summer. We’ll be heading to events, boat clubs, ramps and out on the water to chat about these new marine protections,” says Prior.

The DOC team, based in Whitianga, Warkworth and Auckland, is installing signs at boat ramps, sharing maps with local fishing retailers and working with chart-plotter providers to update digital maps.

“The law is brand new, and it will take time for changes like signage and electronic charts to be completed,” Prior says.

“Our focus for now is on education and support. Compliance checks will increase over time as people become familiar with the new protections.”

For Hibiscus Coast fishers, most of the Gulf remains open.

High Protection Areas prohibit recreational and commercial fishing.

Customary non-commercial fishing is still allowed with written authorisation from a tangata kaitiaki.

Seafloor Protection Areas restrict bottom trawling and dredging but still allow line fishing and diving.

DOC says these measures will help reefs and sensitive sea floors recover, creating a healthier Gulf with more fish for future generations.

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