The Mohua Marine Trust (MMT) is one big step closer to achieving its ambition to create and deploy artificial reef structures. Last month Tasman District Council (TDC) granted the trust a 35-year resource consent to place up to 420 reef balls in the area near Onekaka Wharf. Trust chair and founding member Gene Klein said that the consent was a huge step forward.
“It was a gradual process and at times we weren't sure if we were on the right track. Now that TDC has shown such encouraging support for our plan we’re very confident about the future.”
In the immediate future MMT will do some baseline monitoring at Onekaka. The data gathered will be used to measure the likely improvements after the reef balls are deployed. The MMT group will also bring some moulds to the Bay and start building the first 20 reef balls for phase one of the consented project.
The group has settled on a structure called the pallet ball. Each one weighs about 600 kg and measures about 1.2 m in diameter. Made of concrete poured in a fibreglass mould, the finished ball is an ideal habitat for marine organisms because buoys and balloons inserted in the casting process and then removed, produce tunnels and holes. International research has shown that each reef ball can produce 136-181 kg of biomass per year, which will significantly increase biodiversity in the Bay. The first 20 balls will be arrayed on the seafloor at Onekaka and the trust will monitor their success.
Almost five years ago, MMT grew out of the concern of three Golden Bay residents, John McKie, John Davis, and Gene. Their observations led them to believe that our marine environment needed science-based intervention to assist its rehabilitation.
“It’s in pretty poor shape,” says Gene. “Placing these artificial structures will lead to restored abundance.”
The three founders recruited Lex Taylor, Alan Hughes, and Neil Wilson, formed the trust and set off in pursuit of their goals. John McKie is no longer a full-time resident here, looking on from afar and catching up with progress whenever he is in the Bay.
“Before we started the project, we reached out to everyone who could possibly have a stake in it, so we naturally started with Manawhenua ki Mohua,” says Gene. “Then we approached TDC and the GB Community Board, both secondary schools, DOC, Heritage NZ, the Marine Farmers Association (MFA), the Tarakohe Sea Anglers Club, the GB Community Trust, Legasea, and a lot of very well-informed locals like Joan and Bob Butts. The reaching out took quite a while but everyone we spoke to encouraged us and now we feel the community is well informed and on board.”
Trust treasurer, Lex Taylor says that one of the best outcomes of the outreach process was an introduction from MFA to marine biologist Dr Emilee Benjamin. Based at the University of Auckland but living in Nelson, Emilee is now a research fellow investigating seabed restoration with mussels and shells across Te Tau Ihu, including Mohua Golden Bay.
“Emilee has really helped us,” says Lex. “She’s got the scientific credibility, she’s a great networker and has been through the consent process. She’s awesome.”
“The generation of new habitat is a particularly beneficial outcome of reef balls as they generate complexity and provide a hard settlement surface which in turn increases biodiversity, including fish abundances,” says Emilee. “The Mohua Marine Trust is pioneering this work here in New Zealand and will be the first in NZ to deploy an artificial reef of this scale.”
Trustee Alan Hughes brings professional expertise in civil engineering in the marine environment to the project. Little did he know that when he and his wife Bernice retired to Rangihaeata, Alan would immediately become involved in the MMT project.
In the near future, the trust will hold a public meeting to report back to its existing supporters and recruit new ones.
As the project ramps up it will require serious funding. The trustees are confident that major funders and community members will want to be involved.
Original article Published GB Weekly September 8th 2024.
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