He says this new national study mapping kina barrens confirms Aotearoa is at a critical juncture-where long-term action is urgently needed to restore predator populations and protect our kelp forests.
What are Kina Barrens
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Kina (sea urchins, particularly Evechinus chloroticus) can overgraze rocky reef habitats, removing kelp forests and turning them into “barrens” – areas of bare rock or turf, with much lower biodiversity.
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Key cause: when predators of kina (like snapper / tāmure, and rock lobster / kōura) are removed or reduced (via fishing or other pressures), kina populations can explode.
The main recent national‐scale report is “Summarising and updating knowledge on the distribution of kina barrens in key regions of Aotearoa New Zealand” (Aquatic Environment & Biodiversity Report No. 365 by MPI).
