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Evaluation of the Customary Fisheries Management of Shellfish in The Evaluation of the Customary Fisheries Management of Shellfish in the Canterbury Region In partial fulfillment of a Master of Science in Environmental Science University of Canterbury, New Zealand Kusitino Mudunaivalu Abstract During the last twenty years there has been a growing recognition of the need to protect shellfish populations all over the world. In New Zealand, customary management tools such as rehab (temporary closures) and mātaitai reserves provide an important management strategy, allowing shellfish populations to be managed and protected in coastal waters. This thesis examined the cultural management of shellfish in three Māori reserves in the Canterbury region, at Rāpaki, Port Levy and Kaikōura. The study measured the population characteristics of three key shellfish species that are important to Māori within the reserves and compared them with similar non-reserve sites. The shellfish populations were assessed using both scientific methods and cultural evaluations using traditional ecological knowledge (TEK). The scientific methods involved assessments of the abundance; size structure and condition index of pipis (Paphies australis), cockles (Austrovenus stutchburyi) and cats eyes (Turbo smaragdus). Semi-structured interviews were used to gather indigenous knowledge from kaumatua and kaitiaki on the abundance of shellfish and the state of their customary fisheries. The findings from the scientific research indicated that the customary reserves had higher shellfish abundance, larger individuals and higher abundance of harvestable size shellfish. The result of the cultural assessments suggested that there are enough shellfish in the three reserves to satisfy the customary needs of the communities. The kaitiaki acknowledged that the abundance and sizes of shellfish had been greater and larger in the past compared to the present. They have observed an increase in both size and abundance of shellfish since the customary reserves have been put in place. This study showed that scientific monitoring can provide important information about the structure and distribution of shellfish and that this is critical for sustainable management. The research findings indicated that scientific monitoring and TEK information can compliment each other for improved customary fishery management. The thesis research concluded that differences in shellfish populations between the reserves and non-reserve sites may be due, not only to the customary management, but a variety of complex factors that will require further monitoring. This research, however, provided baseline data about shellfish populations which can be used to monitor future changes. From a cultural perspective the customary management is conserving shellfish populations and therefore is successful at fulfilling the customary needs of the three Māori communities. i | P a g e Acknowledgments Thank you Islay Marsden my chief supervisor, for your keen interest, support, advice, encouragement and patience. The support of my associate supervisors, John Piker and Sharyn Goldstien is gratefully appreciated; thank you John for your advice on statistical analysis and enabling me to do this research with the three Māori communities. Sharyn thank you for always being willing to help, providing guidance with the sampling, and providing a critical review of the thesis. Your help with the field research at Kaikōura is acknowledged. To Jan McKenzie, thank you for your time and support in providing me with all the equipments and transport that I needed to do this research. I am also grateful to the kaumatua and kaitiaki of Kaikōura, Rāpaki and Koukourārata for allowing me to research their customary fisheries and sharing their Indigenous Knowledge and passion for the protection of the environment. Finally I dedicate this thesis to my family, Doris, Makario and Peter for their support and for helping me with the counting and measuring of shellfish, especially during the cold winter. Special thanks to Doris my wife for her support and understanding during my years of study. ii | P a g e Table of Contents Abstract ...............................................................................................................................i Acknowledgments .............................................................................................................ii List of Figures....................................................................................................................vi List of Tables......................................................................................................................ix Chapter One – Customary Fisheries Management of Shellfish in the Canterbury Region....1 1.1 Introduction........................................................................................................... 1 1.2 General Approaches to Fisheries Management..................................................... 2 1.3 Community Management System: Customary Fishing Rights ................................. 3 1.4 History of New Zealand Fisheries Management ...................................................... 4 1.5 New Zealand Shellfish Fisheries ............................................................................ 11 1.6 Study Sites ............................................................................................................. 12 1.7 Objectives of the Research .................................................................................... 16 1.8 Thesis Structure..................................................................................................... 17 Chapter Two – Evaluation of Paphies australis populations in Rāpaki Reserve and non- reserve site at Corsair Bay ................................................................................................ 18 2.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 18 2.2 Tuatua ................................................................................................................... 18 2.3 Toheroa................................................................................................................. 19 2.4 Pipi ........................................................................................................................ 20 2.5 Study Objectives .................................................................................................... 21 2.6 Methods................................................................................................................. 21 2.7 Statistical Analysis.................................................................................................. 23 2.8 Preliminary Survey Results ..................................................................................... 24 2.9 Main Survey Results....................................................................................................28 2.10 Discussion.............................................................................................................. 36 2.11 Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 42 Chapter Three – Evaluation of Austrovenus stutchburyi at Port Levy Mātaitai Reserve and non – reserve sites on Bank Peninsula .............................................................................. 43 3.1 Introduction............................................................................................................ 43 3.2 Study Objectives ................................................................................................... 43 3.3 Study Species: Cockle, Austrovenus stutchburyi ...................................................... 43 3.4 Methodology ..............................................................................................................44 3.5 Statistical Analysis .....................................................................................................46 3.6 Preliminary Survey Results ........................................................................................48 iii | P a g e 3.7 Main Survey Results ...................................................................................................47 3.8 Discussion .................................................................................................................. 56 3.9 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................61 Chapter Four – Evaluation of Turbo smaragdus (cats eye) populations in reserve and non - reserve areas in Canterbury .....................................................................................................62 4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................62 4.2 Study Objectives........................................................................................................ 63 4.3 Methodology...............................................................................................................63 4.4 Statistical Analysis .....................................................................................................64 4.5 Preliminary Survey Results ........................................................................................64 4.6 Main Survey Results ..................................................................................................67
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