Fiordland Marine Guardians 20th anniversary
The Fiordland Marine Guardians, who play an essential role in the management of one of New Zealand’s most iconic marine areas, celebrated their 20th anniversary at an event last month.
“The Fiordland Marine Guardians play a crucial role in the protection and stewardship of the Fiordland Marine area, which is one of New Zealand’s most striking and popular environments,” says Emma Taylor, Director of Fisheries Management, Fisheries New Zealand.
“The group has been instrumental in the efforts to rebuild taonga fish stocks including blue cod and hāpuku, through advocating for measures such as reduced limits and spatial management and promoting responsible fishing in the fiords.”
The Fiordland Marine Guardians were made a statutory advisory group under the Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) Marine Management Act in 2005. Their role is to provide advice to Fisheries New Zealand, Biosecurity New Zealand, the Ministry for the Environment, the Department of Conservation, and Environment Southland about the management of Fiordland’s fisheries and marine environment.
“The Guardians are here to advocate for the place. We focus on what is in the best interests of Fiordland – its fisheries, its iconic ecosystems, and the elements that make the place so special,” says Dr Rebecca McLeod, Chair of the Fiordland Marine Guardians.
“Fiordland’s community led the way in designing this bespoke management solution. Twenty years on, we consider that the way the Guardians work to bring the community and management agencies together still leads the way in terms of place-based management around the country.
“The Guardian’s focus on fisheries management is broader than fishing rules. We are working with the community, scientists, operators and the agencies to develop better ways of communicating our vision, monitoring stocks and reporting fishing effort. Fiordland’s fisheries are vulnerable and sensitive to fishing pressure. Our goal is that future generations will be able to experience fishing for a feed as we have been privileged to.”
In addition to their fisheries related work, the Guardians are also instrumental in managing marine pests such as the invasive seaweed Undaria pinnatifida, promoting the clean vessel pass system, and developing plans to prevent, monitor, and respond to biosecurity issues in the Fiordland area.
“The strength and success of the Guardians comes from their diversity. They bring together knowledge and perspectives from tangata whenua, commercial and recreational fishers, tourism operators, conservationists, and marine scientists, who share the goal of preserving the marine environment of Fiordland for generations to come,” says Emma Taylor.
“We at Fisheries New Zealand thank the Fiordland Marine Guardians, past and present, for their efforts and collaborative spirit that have made a real difference over the past twenty years. We look forward to continuing to work together for the benefit of the Fiordland Marine Area well into the future.”
The Fiordland Marine Guardians were recently recognised at the New Zealand Seafood Sustainability and Innovation Awards 2025, which saw them win the Ocean Guardian Award for the group’s contributions to the protection of marine species and the mitigation of environmental impacts in the Fiordland area.
