We worked with the Hawke’s Bay Marine and Coastal Group (HBMaC) to take a holistic approach to local marine management. The focus was on implementing ecosystem-based management (EBM) in a real-world example by combining science and mātauranga Māori with tools and resources from our previous research.
Stage 1
In collaboration with HBMaC, we developed a system map to explore two environmental stressors in the Hawke's Bay marine environment: freshwater sedimentation and loss of benthic (seafloor) structure, and their interactions. We also compiled a list of metadata for existing environmental and socio-cultural datasets that could be used to populate model scenarios based on the system map.
Stage 2
To explore what changes would be required to improve seafloor structure, we applied a seafloor model of disturbance and recovery dynamics to the Hawke’s Bay marine region. Exploratory scenarios, parameterised using local data, were used to understand the implications of individual stressors on land-based sediment inputs and the intensity of bottom impacts from trawl fisheries on these seafloor ecosystems.
A final set of scenarios was then designed by HBMaC to explore potential management and policy options. The results from these scenarios were combined with the system map, and used by the group to explore how ‘recovery’ of the seafloor ecosystem would ‘flow through’ to the socio-ecological variable in the system map.
Why Hawke's Bay?
The Hawke’s Bay regional study was selected as one of the Phase II case study areas for research on implementing ecosystem-based management in a real-world context, using tools, processes and analyses developed from Sustainable Seas research. Hawke’s Bay is representative of a typical coastal marine ecosystem with sandy beaches, intertidal reefs, dunes, estuaries, subtidal reefs and soft sediments. The region has large river systems, fisheries, productive land, and ocean outfalls which can add stress to the marine system and impact on people’s values for the coastal area.
Anna Madarasz-Smith on the Hawke's Bay coastal environment
About HBMaC
HBMaC is a non-statutory multi-stakeholder group established in 2016 in recognition of concerns over the apparent reduction of inshore finfish stocks and environmental degradation in coastal and marine areas of Hawke’s Bay. HBMaC is comprised of representatives from local and central government councils and agencies, the port company, tangata whenua, the forestry industry, and recreational and commercial fisheries.
Research Team
Carolyn Lundquist (NIWA/University of Auckland)
Justin Connolly (Deliberate)
Anna Madarasz-Smith (HBRC)
Becky Shanahan (HBRC)
Ellen Robotham (HBRC)
Barry Lynch (HBRC)
James Whetu (Whetu Group)
Richard Bulmer (NIWA)
Andrew Allison (NIWA)
Ian Tuck (MPI)
This is a research round-up of our tools, resources and research that support an EBM approach to fisheries management. It is a living document, and more will be added as they develop. Latest update: 2 August 2021
This report summarises the processes and outputs from Stage 1 of the Hawke's Bay regional study. Connolly J, Lundquist C, Madarasz-Smith A, Shanahan B (2020)
Development of a seafloor model of disturbance impacts on benthic structure in the Hawke’s Bay
Report
One of three reports prepared for stage two of Hawke’s Bay regional study. This report describes the adaptation of the seafloor disturbance recovery model to the Hawke’s Bay, and the datasets used to parameterise the model scenarios. Lundquist C, Bulmer R, Yogesh N, Allison A, Leunissen E, Brough T (August 2022)
Enabling ecosystem-based management in the Hawke’s Bay: Overview of stages one and two of the case study process
Report
One of three reports prepared for stage two of Hawke’s Bay regional study. This report describes the full process including stage one (system mapping exercise) and stage two (seafloor model and analogue simulation exercise) and the guidance for future EBM case studies using these tools. Lundquist CJ, Connolly JD, Shanahan R, & Madarasz-Smith A (August 2022)
Applying analogue simulation - A qualitative process to explore the socio-ecological flow-on impacts in a system in response to modelled biophysical changes
Report
One of three reports prepared for stage two of Hawke’s Bay case study. This report describes the analogue simulation process that integrates outputs of the seafloor model with the socio-ecological analysis details in the system map. Connolly JD, Lundquist CJ, Shanahan R, & Madarasz-Smith A (August 2022)
This impact case study describes how a collaborative project is putting our EBM tools into action to understand and better manage the seabed (August 2021).
This impact case study demonstrates how our research is having a real-time impact on how our marine environment is managed to reduce the impact of cumulative effects (August 2022)
These impact case studies show our research is supporting management, influencing policy, and inspiring the next generation. Each was developed at a point in time to showcase our work.
The combined meeting of the New Zealand Marine and Freshwater Science Societies was held in November 2022, and research from several of our projects was presented.
Using the Seafloor Disturbance Model to understand the dynamics of seafloor disturbance and recovery
Summary
This summary showcases the seafloor model of disturbance and recovery dynamics which can be used to explore the implications of changes in the scale and intensity of different stressors for seafloor ecosystems.
Sediment tolerance and mortality thresholds of benthic habitats
We investigated the effects that suspended sediment from human activities has on the health and survival of deep water species in the South Taranaki Bight.
