Transcript
JONATHAN SINCLAIR: The special thing about the new marine reserve is, first of all its size. At 840,000 square kilometres it is the second largest protected marine area in the world, after Hawai'i that was announced just last week. It will be a 99 percent no-fish zone, which means that all fishing is prohibited in the region, apart from the Islanders, who will be able to fish as they always have done around the islands for their own consumption. Also banned are any activities such as mining, or exploitation of the seabed. So this is a really strong statement of Britain's desire to protect its unique flora and fauna around the world.
SALLY ROUND: There is also the very special nature of the surveillance that's going to be going on, because this is a very remote area of the world isn't it?
JS: It is remote, you're absolutely right. And what's been going on over the last 18 months have been a series of trials with the Pew Foundation and the Bertarelli Foundation, to look at different techniques to ensure that once the MPA comes into force it can be enforced, because a marine protected area is of no use without that surveillance and monitoring and enforcement. And what we found through the trials, we've used a wave glider, which is like a massive surfboard with a solar panel and a little motor, which goes around the ocean, and some satellite tracking from catapult, is that we've been able to track with quite sophistication and accuracy, the pattern of shipping in the area, which has given us good certainty that we can monitor and enforce the area once it comes into effect this week.
SR: And was there a lot of pressure from Pitcairners themselves for this marine reserve to be set up?
JS: They were certainly very supportive. Their voices have been heard, not just in conversations with ourselves here in New Zealand and in London, but they've been attending conferences over the last few years, went to Parliament in the UK, and they were supportive when the announcement was made last year that we intended to create an MPA and they're delighted that there's been one now.
SR: As you say, fishing is still protected, what else might this bring for them?
JS: First and foremost it is a great stamp of their own desire to protect the environment, they do see themselves as stewards of their islands and this is very important. I think it obviously brings the world's attention on the Pitcairn Islands and every time a boat goes out there it's normally full of environmentalists and scientists and we very much hope that this will be another boost to eco-tourism as well. So I think there are many strands to this for the islanders themselves. What this main focus has been, has been not just the protection of the species and it's about conserving fish stocks more generally as opposed to more unique species, but also the signal it sends to our friends like in America and the MPA that this a global endeavour to try and protect and conserve marine life across the world, not just in certain spots around it.
SR: And with the prevalence of illegal fishing in the South Pacific Ocean, you're confident that this new technology is going to work?
JS: So far it has worked. I don't think we'd have got this far if we didn't think we were confident it could work. We'll always look to improve the technology certainly, but so far it's proved very effective. We're confident that as the technology improves even further, working with our friends around the world, but also with the NGOs we've partnered with so far, that it will form a way to ensure that the waters around Pitcairn are protected properly.
