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Local fishing management and public education about exotic caulerpa are key advocacy initiatives for Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board.
Sometimes local boards are not the decision maker when it comes to projects or important decisions that will affect locals significantly.
When this is the case, the board advocates for the community and does everything it can to make your voices heard.
After reading and listening to feedback from the Annual Plan consultation, the board submitted local input to the council in late April 2025. Part of that feedback included two key advocacy initiatives.
The first is a request for continued support for communications to keep educational public messaging on exotic caulerpa.
Caulerpa has been a problem for the marine environment around Aotea since 2021 and has more recently been found in other parts of the Hauraki Gulf including near Waiheke.
To limit the spread of this invasive weed, boat owners need to be aware of why it is such a threat to our marine life, and steps they should take to reduce the risk of transporting it to new areas.
The second advocacy initiative is establishing local management of Aotea coastline and fisheries.
“With the recent closure of the inner Hauraki Gulf to both recreational and commercial spiny rock lobster fishing, we are extremely concerned about fishing efforts being displaced to the outer gulf and heavily impacting Aotea,” says board chair Izzy Fordham.
“Residents have already noted an increase of fishing activities around the coastline.”
The board is beginning conversations with stakeholders including iwi, Fisheries NZ, central government and Auckland Council.
So far, the board has sent a letter to Minister for Oceans and Fisheries Hon Shane Jones, noting its disappointment in the decision not to include Aotea in the closure of rock lobster fishing in the Hauraki Gulf. The letter also seeks to provide local protection around the island’s coastline. A copy of the letter can be found on the April business meeting agenda.
Minister Jones has responded and is open to further discussion. His letter will be included on the May 2025 business meeting agenda.
The board will keep the community informed as talks progress.
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