Image
Credit: Ayushi Kachhara NIWA 2018
Report

Development of a seafloor model of disturbance impacts on benthic structure in the Hawke’s Bay

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)

Download

As part of the Hawke’s Bay regional study, we applied a seafloor model of disturbance and recovery dynamics to explore the implications of changes in the scale and intensity of different stressors for seafloor ecosystems. Exploratory scenarios, parameterised using local data on seafloor sediments and fisheries catch, were used to understand implications of individual stressors of land-based sediment inputs and of intensity of bottom impacts from trawl fisheries on benthic communities.

A final set of scenarios was then designed by the Hawke’s Bay Coastal and Marine Group to explore the outcome on seafloor communities when combinations of reductions in sediment and fishing stressors were applied.

These scenarios varied three different levers:

  1. Reductions in sediment mud content on the seafloor
  2. Reductions in fishing intensity
  3. Implementation of spatial closures (fishery restrictions)
Key points
Related reports

Hawke's Bay Seafloor Model Report

2.3 MB | pdf

Related projects & activities

Image
Hawke's Bay regional study
This collaboration in Hawke's Bay is mapping environmental stressors, their interactions, and providing guidance for reducing their impacts.
More
This project has produced or contributed to