A LINE in the OCEAN Unmodified One, Straddles Tropical and Temperate Are Increasing After Decades of Lack of a Strategic Approach

Home , Kermadec Islands, Macauley Island, Raoul Island

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THE KERMADECS SCIENCE IN THE KERMADECS

There are few marine areas on The Kermadec Islands became Scientific interest in the Kermadec earth as complex and intact as the part of New Zealand in 1886 and region has grown in recent decades. ‘the marine environment at the Kermadec region of New Zealand. a permanent field base – initially Scientists from New Zealand The diverse range of undisturbed run by the meteorological service museums, universities and Crown Kermadecs is as close to “pristine” habitats and species make this one of but now by the Department Research Institutes, along with the worlds most remarkable places. of Conservation (DOC) – was international researchers, have as it is possible to find anywhere What makes this place especially established on Raoul Island in 1937. discovered numerous hydrothermal valuable to science is that, as well as While the islands have never been vents and seamounts, along with in the world’ containing healthy ecosystems, it is permanently inhabited, introduced species new to science that live in the – so far – largely unexplored and may species, especially rodents, have shallow waters around the Kermadec Jonathan Gardner, DEEP*, p.42 yet hold many secrets vital to earth’s changed the islands’ flora and Islands as well as deep in the sea ‘You can have a marine life-supporting processes. decimated seabird populations. around the underwater volcanoes. Scientist studying the bird fauna on Scientists sampling in a rock pool on Raoul Banded coral shrimp Raoul Island Island, May 2011 photograph by Roger Grace This research suggests there are photograph by Karen Baird photograph by Tom Trnski, Auckland Museum natural laboratory The remote Kermadec Islands The islands are now a nature reserve, many new species to discover, lie in the heart of one of the world’s and DOC staff and volunteers are geological formations to investigate anywhere, but it’s great ocean wilderness areas. The working to eliminate exotic flora and complex ecological interactions 620,000-square-kilometre Kermadec and fauna and restore the local biota. to untangle, but research to date has best to choose an region, located between New In the waters around the islands, been opportunistic, limited not only Zealand’s North Island and Tonga, sightings of migrating whales by logistics and cost but also by the A LINE IN THE OCEAN unmodified one, straddles tropical and temperate are increasing after decades of lack of a strategic approach. climates and is home to whales whaling drove many species to near Future directions and priorities for Kermadecs science with good diversity of and turtles, sharks, seabirds, fish extinction. July 2012 and deep-sea marine life, with new This document was developed by the Pew Environment Group with habitat, geographic species being discovered every year. Despite the devastating human contributions from Malcolm Clark (NIWA), Jonathan Gardner (Victoria The region includes volcanic islands, impact on the seabird and University of Wellington), Karen Baird (Forest and Bird), Rochelle Constantine range, and depth.’ cold methane seeps, hydrothermal whale populations, the marine (The University of Auckland), Marti Anderson (Massey University), Clinton vents and the second deepest ocean environment is largely intact, and Duffy (Department of Conservation), Miles Lamare (Otago University), Tom Marti Anderson, University of Auckland trench on earth, making it a hotspot is as pure and undisturbed as it is Trinski (Auckland Museum), Kevin Faure (GNS Science), Gaven Martin (Massey for some of the most geologically possible to find anywhere in the University), Geoffroy Lamarche (NIWA), Richard Wysoczanski (NIWA) and active and biologically unusual world. The 12 nautical miles around ‘the fauna is effectively Vincent Zintzen (Te Papa). features on the planet. In 2010, the each island is a marine reserve, while National Geographic Society and the the waters from 12 to 200 nautical so poorly known we have no Cover international Census of Marine Life miles are a benthic protected zone Gas bubbles from the Kermadec seabed *DEEP: Thoughts and Talks Celebrating Diversity in New Zealand’s Untouched Kermadecs photograph by Malcolm Francis PEW Environment Group and Te Papa Tongarewa, August 2010 declared the Kermadecs one of the where no trawling or dredging is basis at this time for knowing ‘last pristine sites left in the ocean’. allowed. For further information about this document, or about science in the how much we do not know’ Kermadecs, please contact: Kermadec Initiative, Pew Environment Group Undersea New Zealand (scale 1:4,000,000) Level 6, Central House, 26 Brandon Street, PO Box 25 459, NIWA Andrew Stewart and Malcolm Clark, DEEP*, p.70 Wellington 6143, New Zealand / phone: +64 4 499 0332 www.TheKermadecs.org A discussion document A MARINE LABORATORY FOR THE WORLD VALUE OF THE KERMADEC REGION FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH THEME 1 — What species, including resident and — What is the tectonic setting of the — What are the significant features A COLLABORATIVE INTERNATIONAL APPROACH migratory marine species and seabirds, Kermadec and Colville Ridges and how of the Kermadecs’ oceanography, AN UNEXPLORED ENVIRONMENT are found in the Kermadec region? does this relate to the location of mineral including primary productivity, The aim of this document is to stimulate interest in scientific — The Kermadec ecosystems include Improved understanding of the nearshore and pelagic features deposits and active hydrothermal bathymetry, chemistry, currents, etc? Research that takes place in the Kermadecs marine environment research in the Kermadecs marine environment. It is also intended an extraordinarily wide range of of large-scale complex marine ecosystems — Are the marine populations of the systems? Do the region’s hydrothermal will be globally significant, reflected in international to inform discussion and debate – among the wider scientific habitats in a relatively small area, Kermadecs self-supporting or do they systems have a geophysical signature? — What is the volcanic architecture of contributions to science funding, equipment and expertise. community, science investors, decision makers and the general covering subtropical to temperate rely on replenishment from elsewhere? the Kermadec arc and what are the This research will be multidisciplinary, and will involve multi- processes of metallogenesis there? public – about the future of science in this remarkable natural latitudes, and including volcanic agency collaborations between organisations from around the laboratory. It presents some immediate directions and priorities for islands, shallow reefs, continental world. It will involve training new researchers, and will lead to a more integrated approach to scientific research in the Kermadecs slopes, abyssal plains, seamounts, publications in high quality journals and books. The research THEME 2 — What are the trophic interactions — What are the key environmental drivers — How does the ecosystem as a whole and is a first step towards a strategic approach to Kermadecs and extreme environments like within the marine ecosystem? of the distributions and densities of function and what are the key will be communicated widely and will result in increased science. Research themes and questions in this document have hydrothermal vents and a deep A LARGE-SCALE INTERCONNECTED ECOSYSTEM species and communities between the relationships between the geology, scientific and public awareness of the Kermadecs region. All been drafted by the Pew Environment Group, in consultation with sea trench. Improved understanding of how the terrestrial and marine — How are the Kermadecs marine flora different marine habitats (both pelagic biology and oceanography, and the research in this remote and undisturbed environment will be scientists conducting research on key aspects of the Kermadec environments relate to physical and biological processes and fauna connected to marine flora and benthic)? terrestrial and marine ecosystems? conducted in a way that is safe to the environment and to people and fauna in other areas of New Zealand marine environment. — The waters and seafloor of the Iron and silica-rich chimneys on the summit of and is logistically efficient. Giggenbach Volcano are evidence of warm and the South Pacific Islands? — How are benthic communities — To what extent have the terrestrial Kermadec region are largely springs that were active at this site in the past connected? Do seamounts of the volcanoes impacted on the marine undisturbed by fishing, mining photograph by NOAA/GNS/NIWA — How are the Kermadecs seabirds Kermadec Arc and Ridge act as environment over time, and how A striped boarfish at Raoul Island The Kermadecs offer the international science community a photograph by Roger Grace and pollution, and can provide 2005 Ring of Fire Expedition connected to seabirds in New Zealand ‘stepping stones’ for large scale has this affected the nearshore unique laboratory by providing a window on how undisturbed IMPROVING OUR and other parts of the Pacific Ocean? a baseline environment for dispersal of benthic species? ecosystems? marine ecosystems are structured and function. Measurements This is a unique opportunity to work Hinepuia observation of global trends UNDERSTANDING and models of the components and connections in this Rakahore at the interface of the biological, like climate change, ocean FIRST KEY GOAL: environment will be used to inform management decisions geological and physicochemical Gamble OF HOW A COMPLEX worlds to develop a comprehensive acidification and other human- — The marine systems of the ESTABLISH elsewhere – in degraded ecosystems or where fishing, mining understanding of this intact marine Putoto induced change. Kermadecs are distinctive for THEME 3 — How and why are key aspects of physical — How and why are numbers and — To what extent has the Kermadecs or bio-prospecting are proposed – and to test new ecological ecosystem. MARINE ECOSYSTEM oceanography (e.g. temperature, acidity, habits of migratory species changing marine environment been influenced BIOLOGY GEOLOGY being home to many endemic A VOLCANO- hypotheses, techniques and equipment to improve research Hinetapeka A BASELINE FOR OBSERVING CHANGE pollutants, nutrients, salinity, currents) over time? by historical human activity and how — The Kermadec marine species, having an abundance and management of the marine estate. Raoul Island WORKS Medium- and long-term global, regional and local trends across changing over time? is human activity affecting it now Volcano environment is largely of apex predators, and playing — How is restoration of the island TO-TRENCH New Zealand EEZ boundary KERMADECS a healthy, complex ecosystem are identified and tracked and possibly into the future? Giggenbach unexplored; it contains many a role as a migration route for — How and why are numbers and ecosystem (seabirds and native Macauley Island TRANSECT unique species and geological far-ranging species such as distributions of species, including vegetation) affecting the marine Cheeseman Island Curtis Island ecological indicator species, changing ecosystem? formations and has ongoing large fish, whales, seabirds Long-term monitoring station A NEW HORIZON Havre over time? L’Esperance Rock potential for the discovery of and turtles. locations along the transect, covering Wright new species and novel natural a diverse range of habitats from the The Kermadec region offers a new horizon for science OCEANOGRAPHY products. This combination of features islands down to the extreme depths discovery and collaboration. It is a place where scientists Oliver/Speight Haungaroa makes the region an incredibly of the Kermadec Trench, will be set from around the world can come together to conduct high — As an unfished, unmined, largely valuable resource for scientists up to gather data key to all research quality and leading edge research and focus on marine life Kuiwai Cole undisturbed marine ecosystem, as a reference site for research THEME 4 — What is the value of undisturbed — What are the potential impacts of — To what degree do marine reserves themes and questions. This transect processes at a large scale both within and across complex Ngatoroirangi the Kermadec region is a natural to help understand the structure A NATURAL LABORATORY Kermadec ecosystems – and the risk resource exploitation, such as fishing protect and sustain benthic will, potentially, be supported by a ecosystems. The Kermadecs offers the world the opportunity Sonne and function of a wide range of of degradation of these ecosystems and seabed mining, on biological communities and apex predators Raoul Island laboratory to allow for to explore one of the most dynamic and undisturbed geological laboratory, providing a unique The impacts of resource extraction on adjacent or similar ecosystems, opportunity for scientists from habitats and marine ecosystems. to science, economics, culture and communities and their associated (like tuna and marlin) for analysis and processing of samples. and ocean spaces on earth in an effort to add to scientific Brothers ecosystem services? ecosystems? continuation of the species and around the world to observe The quality of science possible in and the potential for recovery, are determined by modelling the impact knowledge about how natural systems work, and inform Rumble II West commercial catch in other locations? Rumble II how natural marine ecosystems this region is very high and globally of discrete activities on an intact complex ecosystem pressing resource management decisions across our planet’s Rumble III function. important. entire marine environment. Rumble IV Rumble V Tangaroa Clark Whakatane

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THE KERMADECS SCIENCE IN THE KERMADECS

White Island A MARINE LABORATORY FOR THE WORLD VALUE OF THE KERMADEC REGION FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH THEME 1 — What species, including resident and — What is the tectonic setting of the — What are the significant features A COLLABORATIVE INTERNATIONAL APPROACH migratory marine species and seabirds, Kermadec and Colville Ridges and how of the Kermadecs’ oceanography, AN UNEXPLORED ENVIRONMENT are found in the Kermadec region? does this relate to the location of mineral including primary productivity, The aim of this document is to stimulate interest in scientific — The Kermadec ecosystems include Improved understanding of the nearshore and pelagic features deposits and active hydrothermal bathymetry, chemistry, currents, etc? Research that takes place in the Kermadecs marine environment research in the Kermadecs marine environment. It is also intended an extraordinarily wide range of of large-scale complex marine ecosystems — Are the marine populations of the systems? Do the region’s hydrothermal will be globally significant, reflected in international to inform discussion and debate – among the wider scientific habitats in a relatively small area, Kermadecs self-supporting or do they systems have a geophysical signature? — What is the volcanic architecture of contributions to science funding, equipment and expertise. community, science investors, decision makers and the general covering subtropical to temperate rely on replenishment from elsewhere? the Kermadec arc and what are the This research will be multidisciplinary, and will involve multi- processes of metallogenesis there? public – about the future of science in this remarkable natural latitudes, and including volcanic agency collaborations between organisations from around the laboratory. It presents some immediate directions and priorities for islands, shallow reefs, continental world. It will involve training new researchers, and will lead to a more integrated approach to scientific research in the Kermadecs slopes, abyssal plains, seamounts, publications in high quality journals and books. The research THEME 2 — What are the trophic interactions — What are the key environmental drivers — How does the ecosystem as a whole and is a first step towards a strategic approach to Kermadecs and extreme environments like within the marine ecosystem? of the distributions and densities of function and what are the key will be communicated widely and will result in increased science. Research themes and questions in this document have hydrothermal vents and a deep A LARGE-SCALE INTERCONNECTED ECOSYSTEM species and communities between the relationships between the geology, scientific and public awareness of the Kermadecs region. All been drafted by the Pew Environment Group, in consultation with sea trench. Improved understanding of how the terrestrial and marine — How are the Kermadecs marine flora different marine habitats (both pelagic biology and oceanography, and the research in this remote and undisturbed environment will be scientists conducting research on key aspects of the Kermadec environments relate to physical and biological processes and fauna connected to marine flora and benthic)? terrestrial and marine ecosystems? conducted in a way that is safe to the environment and to people and fauna in other areas of New Zealand marine environment. — The waters and seafloor of the Iron and silica-rich chimneys on the summit of and is logistically efficient. Giggenbach Volcano are evidence of warm and the South Pacific Islands? — How are benthic communities — To what extent have the terrestrial Kermadec region are largely springs that were active at this site in the past connected? Do seamounts of the volcanoes impacted on the marine undisturbed by fishing, mining photograph by NOAA/GNS/NIWA — How are the Kermadecs seabirds Kermadec Arc and Ridge act as environment over time, and how A striped boarfish at Raoul Island The Kermadecs offer the international science community a photograph by Roger Grace and pollution, and can provide 2005 Ring of Fire Expedition connected to seabirds in New Zealand ‘stepping stones’ for large scale has this affected the nearshore unique laboratory by providing a window on how undisturbed IMPROVING OUR and other parts of the Pacific Ocean? a baseline environment for dispersal of benthic species? ecosystems? marine ecosystems are structured and function. Measurements This is a unique opportunity to work Hinepuia observation of global trends UNDERSTANDING and models of the components and connections in this Rakahore at the interface of the biological, like climate change, ocean FIRST KEY GOAL: environment will be used to inform management decisions geological and physicochemical Gamble OF HOW A COMPLEX worlds to develop a comprehensive acidification and other human- — The marine systems of the ESTABLISH elsewhere – in degraded ecosystems or where fishing, mining understanding of this intact marine Putoto induced change. Kermadecs are distinctive for THEME 3 — How and why are key aspects of physical — How and why are numbers and — To what extent has the Kermadecs or bio-prospecting are proposed – and to test new ecological ecosystem. MARINE ECOSYSTEM oceanography (e.g. temperature, acidity, habits of migratory species changing marine environment been influenced BIOLOGY GEOLOGY being home to many endemic A VOLCANO- hypotheses, techniques and equipment to improve research Hinetapeka A BASELINE FOR OBSERVING CHANGE pollutants, nutrients, salinity, currents) over time? by historical human activity and how — The Kermadec marine species, having an abundance and management of the marine estate. Raoul Island WORKS Medium- and long-term global, regional and local trends across changing over time? is human activity affecting it now Volcano environment is largely of apex predators, and playing — How is restoration of the island TO-TRENCH New Zealand EEZ boundary KERMADECS a healthy, complex ecosystem are identified and tracked and possibly into the future? Giggenbach unexplored; it contains many a role as a migration route for — How and why are numbers and ecosystem (seabirds and native Macauley Island TRANSECT unique species and geological far-ranging species such as distributions of species, including vegetation) affecting the marine Cheeseman Island Curtis Island ecological indicator species, changing ecosystem? formations and has ongoing large fish, whales, seabirds Long-term monitoring station A NEW HORIZON Havre over time? L’Esperance Rock potential for the discovery of and turtles. locations along the transect, covering Wright new species and novel natural a diverse range of habitats from the The Kermadec region offers a new horizon for science OCEANOGRAPHY products. This combination of features islands down to the extreme depths discovery and collaboration. It is a place where scientists Oliver/Speight Haungaroa makes the region an incredibly of the Kermadec Trench, will be set from around the world can come together to conduct high — As an unfished, unmined, largely valuable resource for scientists up to gather data key to all research quality and leading edge research and focus on marine life Kuiwai Cole undisturbed marine ecosystem, as a reference site for research THEME 4 — What is the value of undisturbed — What are the potential impacts of — To what degree do marine reserves themes and questions. This transect processes at a large scale both within and across complex Ngatoroirangi the Kermadec region is a natural to help understand the structure A NATURAL LABORATORY Kermadec ecosystems – and the risk resource exploitation, such as fishing protect and sustain benthic will, potentially, be supported by a ecosystems. The Kermadecs offers the world the opportunity Sonne and function of a wide range of of degradation of these ecosystems and seabed mining, on biological communities and apex predators Raoul Island laboratory to allow for to explore one of the most dynamic and undisturbed geological laboratory, providing a unique The impacts of resource extraction on adjacent or similar ecosystems, opportunity for scientists from habitats and marine ecosystems. to science, economics, culture and communities and their associated (like tuna and marlin) for analysis and processing of samples. and ocean spaces on earth in an effort to add to scientific Brothers ecosystem services? ecosystems? continuation of the species and around the world to observe The quality of science possible in and the potential for recovery, are determined by modelling the impact knowledge about how natural systems work, and inform Rumble II West commercial catch in other locations? Rumble II how natural marine ecosystems this region is very high and globally of discrete activities on an intact complex ecosystem pressing resource management decisions across our planet’s Rumble III function. important. entire marine environment. Rumble IV Rumble V Tangaroa Clark Whakatane

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THE KERMADECS SCIENCE IN THE KERMADECS