WELLINGTON, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- The New Zealand Parliament has passed the Hauraki Gulf Marine Protection Act, marking a significant milestone in marine conservation for the region.
The legislation creates a network of 19 new marine protected areas, nearly tripling the protection area in a "once-in-a-generation step" taken to turn around the ecological health of the Hauraki Gulf, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka said in a government statement released Tuesday.
In the coming decades, the Hauraki Gulf is expected to see a recovery of key marine species such as snapper and rock lobster, with fish stocks rebounding notably, Potaka said.
Healthier and more diverse kelp forests will create underwater nurseries, supporting marine biodiversity, he said, adding offshore islands will also benefit from revitalized seabird colonies.
The protection measures aim to bolster biodiversity and ensure sustainable use, with limited fishing allowed in a small percentage of the protected zones, he said.
The legislation also celebrates the upcoming 50th anniversary of New Zealand's first marine reserve at Goat Island, established in 1975 close to the North Island coast.
As an iconic part of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park, the Goat Island Marine Reserve will more than triple in size under the new Marine Protection Act, the minister said. ■