Kiwi seaweed under threat - Video

Of course if you object to this practice, you may take the harvesters to court, under the RMA. You will have a very limited time frame to apply. You will have to put your house up as collateral, just to demonstrate that you are not vexatious or litigious. The Respondent Will complain that you are holding up progress and will look for any way to discredit you or any world renown scientist you may offer as an expert witness. Feel free to use this clause of the RMA: 12 Restrictions on use of coastal marine area • (1) No person may, in the coastal marine area,— (e) Destroy, damage, or disturb any foreshore or seabed (other than for the purpose of lawfully harvesting any plant or animal) in a manner that has or is likely to have an adverse effect on plants or animals or their habitat unless expressly allowed by a rule in a regional coastal plan and in any relevant proposed regional coastal plan or a resource consent. I know, I have been there: http://www.whangamata-marina.co.nz/ Welcome to the brave new world of Nick Smith and his Smiling Assasin John Key in the latest exciting episode, The Resource Management (Simplifying and Streamlining) Amendment Bill. If Whangamata was a good reason to change the RMA, where does that leave the rest of the country? As a commissioner of the Environment Court said to a friend of mine: “ Environment Law? Hah! You may as well study Folk Lore!”

I would like to know where the research supporting kelps 1 meter per day growth rate is and is this for kelp that is left un mollested or will the kelp that has been previously harvested still continue to grow at 1 meter daily? Unlikely.
A favoured fishing spot of mine was striped of the kelp growing in front of the rocks and this act of blind stupidity almost rendered the spot devoid of all fish life overnight. The removal of kelp from the marine environment while profitable has on going detrimental effects.
Will the bulging wallets of the harvesters flow on to you and I? Not likely.
The marine environment belongs to all of us and our future generations.
Think atleast twice and act only once. Please for all our sakes put your head in the right place and make the right call.

It annoys me that most fail to mention or recognise the benefits and advantages of manufactured seaweeds. Yes seaweed plays a crucial role in the marine environment but with appropriate systems put in place harvesting seaweed doesn't have to be seen as having adverse effects to the marine food chain.
Beach cast harvesting is governed and managed sustainably through hand gathering methods which is realistically impossible to strip our beaches totally of seaweed so a substantial amount remains in the beach environment to continue it's process in the eco system. Therefore I see no ecological issues with beach cast harvest of seaweed.
With appropriate research harvesting from kelp forests can be implemented into a safe sustainable harvesting environment preserving local larder and protecting our valued fisheries concomitant with creating employment and contributing to the economic growth of New Zealand.
The demand for seaweed is growing and we should be realising the value of using organic products such as seaweed which is most defiantly better for our environment and the well being of New Zealanders!.

How on earth is the government going to adopt an appropriate management system to ensure low level impact? They simply don't have the money or the resources to limit current abuse of fishing quotas. The total area is massive. Let's face it, once the bill is passed, the large overseas corporates will sign long term, legally binding contracts and with that goes our right to debate this issue. Come on John, pick up this issue again and get the Ministry of Fisheries talking about just what they are planning and why there is no public debate. Within a week it will be too late!

There's no disputing the importance seaweed has in the eco system both washed up on the beach or growing in the ocean, but without being too one sided & narrow minded here lies the potential for a significant industry for our country creating employment opportunities for New Zealanders.
The real issue with this lies with adopting an appropriate management system that ensures the level of impact to the eco system is low and sustainable. With research and solid data collection this can be done. I do agree that grooming of beaches just to make it look good for the human eye is a senseless act and has more benefits left where it is. This level of impact is extremely high and under a good management system should not be allowed to happen.
Might I add that manufactured seaweed is a great natural product that has huge benefits for our earth, water ways, our animals(pigs included), our plants, and even us humans, opposed to some of the harmful man made chemicals out there!.

I am pleased to see other people are as apalled as I am at the news re. the harvesting of seaweed and kelp. What are these people we elected to represent us thinking of? It's all for the almighty dollar - what a motivation greed is. Are we going to sell our country's beauty and assets down the road just because there are nations unfortunately very near to us who, like locusts, eat anything and everything? They don't care that they are ruining the world's environments, and when their populations explode to an unmanageable content where will they look for more land - Australia and New Zealand of course!!

I have recently returned from 12 months in Europe where many of the beaches have habitats destroyed by this sort of practice. Please can we not let these short term gains by a few take away for ever the long term habitats of our precious inshore dwelling species. I too have dived and snorkeled around New Zealand's coastline and the kelp and seaweed beds do provide a valuable food source, home and sanctuary for these creatures. Where it doesnt exist, neither do they. Why should we lose this to line a few pockets?

Anyone who's dived the kelp areas of Wellington's Inner Harbour, ie:Kau Bay to Moa Point, knows the importance of this kelp as a habitat for numerous species of juvenile fish, seahorses, crustaceans and kina to name a tiny few. Perhaps the survival of these species aren't as lucrative as the distribution of our kelp overseas.

We all thought that the government were saving the seashore and the seabed for all New Zealanders to enjoy. Turns out we were wrong they were planning to sell the iron ore sands and the seaweed to the highest overseas bidder!
No comment from the Ministry of Fisheries, what's that strategy keep quite and they will go away. Grunt up and enter some dialogue. Where's the public debate!

I am shocked & appauled to hear of National govt plans to open up harvesting of seaweed and kelp forests, upsetting the delicate eco-system and destroying the crucial start of the food chain. As a family who enjoys the sea and fishing I find this plan incredibly shortsighted, putting at risk NZers right and ability to abundant fish, including our future generations. It will be impossible to monitor given the lack of resources, money and the size of the sea shore and sea bed covered. What happens undersea could result in devastation. Just look at the devastation which occurred in Victoria, AU kelp forests, which now places kelp on endangered list. The terrible reality is once the damage is done, it will be too late. NZer's should be outraged, the governtment needs to start listing to what the average NZ wants! We get upset around the palm oil but look at what is about to happen on our own front door - without any public discussion! Shame on you John Key for your short term money grabbing initiatives.