Dean is a lifelong fisherman who fell in love with the Bay as a teen. He moved here from the Taranaki and worked on game-fishing charter boats during the 1980s. His interest in marine conservation was sparked snorkelling at the Poor Knights: “Clouds of fish surrounded me; I swam with huge snapper, kingfish and stingrays. When I got back on board my perspective had changed and I realised why we need no-take areas.” Dean is a photographer and web designer; he designed the Fish Forever website and provides the team with great IT skills.
Reversing the decline
The Bay of Islands sparkles on the surface, but underneath life is in trouble. The teeming marine life that greeted past generations is now a shadow of its former self. There are many things we can do to reverse the decline. Let's all make changes on the water and on land that will help to rebuild what we love. Future generations must be able to enjoy Tangaroa's abundance. [Read more...]
Some of the marine protection tools that can start to reverse the decline:
No-take areas deliver
Like we are already beginning to see in the Maunganui Bay rahui, no-take areas are the quickest way to enable marine life to thrive - for recovery, spillover, education, science, tourism and a fantastic snorkelling exprience! [Read more...]
No-take areas boost reproduction
New research confirms adult snapper in the Leigh Marine Reserve boost snapper abundance in surrounding waters. This small marine reserve is punching well above its weight, contributing 10% of juvenile snapper between the Hen and Chicks and Whangaparoa. [Read more...]
Kaitiakitanga
Hapu can lead they way using tools in the Customary Fisheries Legislation to rebuild local fish stocks. Ngati Kuta and Patukeha have done this well with the Maunganui Bay Rahui. Ngā Hapū o Taiamai ki Te Marangi established the 20 sq km Te Puna Mātaitai which excludes commercial fishing. We look forward to the kaitiaki setting bylaws to manage the recreational fishing in this area. [Read more...]
Manage for more fish
Let’s choose to manage our fisheries to have more fish in the sea. Historically NZ's fisheries management decisions have been based on trying to keep fish stocks at just 20% of natural abundance. Managing for 50% natural abundance would mean more fish, bigger fish. [Read more...]
Voluntary fishing accord
Our ever increasing population and technology has put enormous pressure on fish stocks in the Bay of Islands. This is our new reality. Here's some simple actions all of us who fish can take to conserve our stocks. [Read more...]
Dolphins in distress!
We're loving them to death! In the Bay of Islands 75% of calves die before reaching adulthood... [Read more...]
Sedimentation is a killer
Things we do on land affects the amount of fish in the sea. Loss of sediment-trapping wetlands means 500,000 tonnes of silt surges down our rivers and out into the Bay of Islands each year. It's a silent killer smothering shellfish beds and kelp forests, and turning rock seabeds to mud. [Read more...]
Keep marine pests out
Like possums and stoats on land, marine pests have huge potential to wreak havoc on our native marine life. Let's keep them out of the Bay of Islands! [Read more...]
Good reads:
Latest news
Oceans of support for rāhui rollover
A huge thank you to the 1,039 people who made a submission through the Fish Forever website in support of the rāhui rollover! Our hope is Fisheries…
Wrecked Reefs by John Booth - Russell Review Article
Just where does the buck stop for shallow-reef kelp loss in the Bay of Islands? It has crept up on us. The process has been slow and steady –…
Bay of Islands Recreational Fishing Report - John Booth
Recreational fishing in the Bay of Islands: intense pressure contributes to stress on fishstocks and to local ecological degradation. By John Booth,…
Kina and their effect on algal communities in the Bay of Islands
Rocky shores around New Zealand have areas in water depths of between about three to eleven metres where there is little (and sometimes no) kelp. In…
Join Fish Forever
All of us with an interest and love of Tangaroa, let's work together and take on the challenge of marine protection for the Bay.
Annual Membership Rates:
Student/concession - $15.00
Affiliate (please name organistation) - $15.00
Individual - $25.00
Family - $35.00