I
f implemented, the closures 
will affect our ability to gather 
kaimoana such as cockles, kina 
and pāua from rocky shores and 
tidal areas from Muriwai and 
Piha out west, and Te Arai Point, 
Leigh to Waihi Beach.
The proposals come in 
response to growing concern 
about the depletion of intertidal 
species in easily accessible coastal 
areas. Reports of barren rock 
pools, depleted shellfish beds 
and declining marine life have 
become increasingly common.
However, until Fisheries New 
Zealand tackles overfishing, manages 
localised depletion, and collaborates 
with councils to limit land run-off, 
closures will remain what they 
are today: a symptom of a broken 
system, not a solution to it.
BACKGROUND
Images of barren, lifeless rock 
pools stripped bare of intertidal 
critters have flooded social 
media in recent years.
Our intertidal coastline is under 
growing pressure, and we can 
no longer ignore the damage. 
Local communities have genuine 
concerns about the ongoing 
depletion of rocky shore species 
such as limpets, cat’s eyes, 
whelks, and periwinkles.
Our children should be 
exploring rock pools teeming 
with life, not empty stretches of 
coastline where once abundant 
species have disappeared.
Excessive shellfish harvesting 
at accessible east coast areas 
during low tide is a grave 
issue, but it’s not new.
If we want our rockpools to recover 
and teem with abundance, then land-
based action is also required to protect 
vulnerable intertidal species in low-tide 
areas.  Photo Sora Waningsinggel
38  FISHING IN GODZONE MAGAZINE
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