Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) Management Area

Closed and restricted areas

Marine Reserves

In the Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) Marine Area there are 10 Marine Reserves.
The following is a list of the Marine Reserves running from North to South:

• Piopiotahi (Milford Sound) Marine Reserve
• Te Hapua (Sutherland Sound) Marine Reserve
• Hawea (Clio Rocks) Marine Reserve [Bligh Sound]
• Kahukura (Gold Arm) Marine Reserve [Charles Sound]
• Kutu Parera (Gaer Arm) Marine Reserve [Bradshaw Sound]
• Te Awaatu Channel (The Gut) Marine Reserve [Doubtful Sound]
• Taipari Roa (Elizabeth Island) Marine Reserve [Doubtful Sound]
• Moana Uta (Wet Jacket Arm) Marine Reserve [Acheron Passage]
• Taumoana (Five Fingers Peninsula) Marine Reserve [Goose Cove - Dusky Sound]
• Te Tapuwae o Hua (Long Sound) Marine Reserve [Preservation Inlet]

Within the marine reserves, all marine life is totally protected. All fishing, both non-commercial and commercial is totally prohibited along with any polluting, killing, taking, disturbing, damaging or the removal of marine life or any natural feature inside a marine reserve. Recreational, educational and scientific activities are permitted and encouraged as long as they do not disturb or endanger the plant and animal life or natural features. The Department of Conservation (DOC) is responsible for managing marine reserves.

For more information on the reserves and their boundaries, or to report any offences, please contact the DOC Visitor Centre, Lakefront Drive Te Anau, Ph (03) 249 7921 or call the 24 hour hotline on 0800 DOCHOT (0800 362 468) http://www.doc.govt.nz/

No anchoring areas

There are five small areas in Fiordland where anchoring is prohibited. Discreet no anchoring areas are each located in Bligh Sound, Precipice Cove (Bradshaw Sound), Wet Jacket Arm, Nine Fathom Passage (Dusky Sound) and The Narrows (Long Sound) in Preservation Inlet. These areas are home to particularly fragile species that could be damaged by an anchor or its swinging chain.

If you would like further information about anchoring, or if you wish to report a pollution source, please contact Environment Southland, corner North Road and Price Street, Invercargill, Ph (03) 211 5115 or call the Southland area 24 hour Pollution Hotline on 0800 SOUTHLAND (0800 768 845) http://www.es.govt.nz/

A guide to the law

These notes are provided as a summary guide of applicable law, which is subject to change. Relevant legislation, includes: The Fisheries Act 1996, Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) Marine Management Act 2005, Fisheries (Amateur Fishing) Regulations 1986, Fisheries (Southland and Sub-Antartic Areas Amateur Fishing) Regulations 1991, Fisheries (Southland and Sub-Antartic Areas Amateur Fishing) Amendment Regulations 2005 and Amendment No 2, the Fisheries (Infringement Offences) Amendment Regulations 2005 and the Marine Reserves Act 1971.

For full details on amateur fishing restrictions, contact your nearest Ministry of Fisheries office. A complete copy of the relevant legislation (including Acts and associated regulations) is available from Bennett’s Government Bookshops.

New penalties apply

There are heavy penalties for breaching fisheries regulations including graduated Infringement notice penalties of $250 and $500, maximum Court fines of $10,000 and for serious non-commercial offences, there are maximum Court Fines of $20,000 and $250,000 along with automatic forfeiture of any fish, gear and property (including vessels and vehicles) used in the commission of the offence.