One of the challenges he will discuss at the showcase is the 鈥渁bsolute pillage of the p膩ua fishery鈥 which had been closed for five years due to post-earthquake damage to Kaik艒ura鈥檚 seabed. Recreational fishing enthusiasts took an additional 38 tonnes of p膩ua over the allocation of five tonne. At 3000 p膩ua to a tonne, that鈥檚 overfishing of some 114,000 p膩ua, a species that takes eight years to reach harvestable size. The daily limit in Kaik艒ura is five blackfoot p膩ua per person with a minimum legal size of 125mm.听 听听听
鈥淭here was not enough management. We warned officials, but it was just open slather, and it took an additional seven years鈥 worth of p膩ua out of that environment,鈥 he says.
Overly enthusiastic and sometimes illegal seafood collection is not the only problem threatening our marine species. There are risks from warming seas, marine heatwaves and land-based activities. 听
鈥淯sually when people think about sustainability, they think about turning off their lights, and other personal behaviours. But I deal with large-scale issues involving cross-ecosystem effects on the near-shore marine environment, and there are increasing impacts because of our land-use intensification, sediments from forestry and other outcomes from how we use the land near the sea,鈥 Professor Schiel says.
鈥淣ew Zealand鈥檚 a maritime nation. We all love the sea, but we don鈥檛 treat the sea very well at times. We currently have little cross-ecosystem, holistic ways of managing the marine environment.鈥
Professor Schiel is an accomplished researcher and science communicator who works with government and regional councils to ensure policy planning is based on the latest science. He has published hundreds of papers within his research interests of marine intertidal and subtidal ecology and aquaculture, and is a world expert on kelp forests and temperate reefs. Among many honours, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand, won New Zealand Science Communicator of the Year in 2015, the same year he was appointed a听Distinguished Professor, and was awarded the听UC Research Medal听in 2016.
Despite seeing first-hand evidence that many key species 鈥渁re getting beyond their physiological limit,鈥 Professor Schiel says he remains optimistic. 鈥淭he majority of people want to know the science, and government departments rely on what we do.鈥
But he says it will take a holistic approach to stop loving our oceans to death. 鈥淎nyone who thinks there are simple solutions hasn鈥檛 been paying attention.鈥 听
Professor Schiel鈥檚 talk 鈥撎Through the ordinary and extraordinary, are we loving our ocean resources to death?听鈥 is part of T墨tohu T奴roa | Sustainability Showcase, organised by UC and the Christchurch City Council (CCC) to explore the latest research and action on sustainability challenges across transport, food systems, affordable energy, urban forestry plans, use of our coastal resources, and more. UC, CCC and local industry experts will join forces to share the latest from their areas of knowledge.
Guest speakers include:
- Dr Rod Carr, Chairperson, Climate Change Commission, on听Carbon Rush: Can Canterbury cash in on the changing Climate?
- Professor Te Maire Tau, Pou Whakarae, Ng膩i Tahu Centre, on听Whakaora te Awa | River Restoration
- Malcolm Johns, Chief Executive, Christchurch International Airport Ltd, on听Carbon, Ambition & Reality
T墨tohu T奴roa|Sustainability Showcase is on Friday 28 October 2022 from 9:15am to 5pm at the Engineering Core, 91制片厂 Ilam Campus. Join one session or join many, online or in person. See the programme and book your free tickets听.
