Fisheries New Zealand are still stuck in a single-species mindset, managing kōura / spiny lobster as if they exist in isolation. The real measure of success should be the recovery of kelp forest coverage – the foundation of our shallow reef ecosystems. To their credit, FNZ are finally discussing area closures, but the framing remains too narrow.
My estimates (based on the best available information) show that restored kelp forests in CRA 2 (Hauraki Gulf Marine Park) could be worth 12–29 times more than the entire fishery. In CRA 1 (Northland), the foregone ecosystem services from lost kelp forests are even starker – between 100 and 228 times greater than the value of the fishery itself.
The packhorse lobster fishery in northeastern New Zealand should be closed immediately to allow predator populations to recover, avoiding millions of dollars in ongoing costs for culling long-spined sea urchins.
