Boaties travelling through the Hauraki Gulf over the coming weeks are being urged not to mistake lobster pots for commercial fishing activity, with the Department of Conservation launching a major scientific survey to better understand the health of one of Aotearoa’s most important marine ecosystems.
Beginning on 29 June and continuing throughout July, researchers will deploy around 50 baited lobster pots inside and outside marine protected areas across Te Hāwere-a-Maki/Goat Island, Tāwharanui, Kawau Island, Te Hauturu-o-Toi/Little Barrier Island and the Mokohīnau Islands.
The project brings together the Department of Conservation (DOC), the University of Auckland, local iwi and commercial fishers in a collaborative effort to build a detailed picture of lobster populations and the wider marine environment.
The work forms part of a broader environmental monitoring programme following the introduction of new marine protection measures in the Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana.
Marine scientist Emma Kearney says the research is designed to improve understanding of lobster populations by recording the size, location and movement of individual animals.
Each lobster will be measured, tagged and have a small tissue sample collected for genetic analysis before being released alive back into the ocean.
Researchers hope the information will reveal how lobsters move between marine protected areas and surrounding fishing grounds while also providing valuable insights into the genetic health of populations across the Gulf.
The use of commercial lobster pots allows scientists to compare research findings with existing fisheries data, helping build a more complete understanding of how marine protection influences species abundance and ecosystem recovery over time.
The surveys will be carried out aboard the commercial fishing vessels Jackpot and Carolyn Marie, operating under research permits that allow them to work within marine protected areas.
DOC is asking members of the public to leave any research pots undisturbed if they encounter them on the water.
The traps can be identified by surface floats displaying cattle tags marked “Research” together with permit numbers and contact details.
The monitoring programme also provides an opportunity to assess the effectiveness of the Gulf’s newest high protection areas alongside long-established marine reserves.
Scientists say this will help determine how different levels of protection contribute to restoring marine biodiversity, rebuilding fish stocks and improving ecosystem resilience.
The involvement of local iwi reflects the growing partnership approach to marine conservation, combining western science with mātauranga Māori to better understand and care for Tīkapa Moana.
As pressure continues to grow on marine environments through fishing, climate change and habitat loss, the research is expected to provide valuable baseline data that will guide future conservation and fisheries management decisions.
For Aucklanders and visitors heading onto the water this winter, the message is simple: if you spot lobster pots inside marine protected areas, they are gathering knowledge, not dinner.
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