WELLINGTON, June 2 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand will establish five new marine reserves along the Otago coast, expanding protection for some of the country's most distinctive marine ecosystems, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka said on Tuesday.
The reserves, covering about 308 square kilometers, form part of the southeast marine protection network and will take effect from July 1. The move will increase marine reserve coverage around mainland New Zealand by almost 50 percent, said a government statement.
The protected areas include habitats such as giant kelp forests, rocky reefs, offshore canyons and deepwater coral communities, home to the country's iconic and vulnerable species, including yellow-eyed penguins, New Zealand sea lions and albatross, Potaka was quoted as saying.
The initiative followed more than a decade of consultations and was developed in partnership with Kai Tahu, the local Maori tribe of the South Island, he said.
"Protecting these areas gives marine ecosystems the opportunity to recover, strengthens resilience, and supports the long-term health of our oceans," the minister said.
New Zealand's Department of Conservation and Kai Tahu will jointly monitor and manage the reserves.
The government is also considering final boundaries for a sixth proposed reserve before making a decision on its establishment. ■
