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Marine & coastal

You are here: Conservation > Marine & coastal

New Zealand's marine environment

Fish and sea lettuce, Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve. Photo copyright: Kate Malcolm (DOC USE ONLY).

New Zealand's rich and complex marine environment extends from sub-tropical to sub-antarctic and provides homes to over 15,000 known species - many of which are not found anywhere else in the world.

Marine reserves & other protected areas

Diving in Kapiti Island Marine Reserve. Photo: M P Francis. Image DOC use only.

Find out about marine reserves, marine parks, marine mammal sanctuaries and other marine environments that DOC has responsibility for.

Coastal management

Stony beach, Kaikoura Coast. Photo: B Smith.

Learn the various ways New Zealand's coastline is managed.

Commercial fishing

Birds flocking around a trawler net.

DOC is actively engaged in addressing the impacts of commercial fishing on protected species and the marine environment. Find out more.

Seismic Surveys Code of Conduct

Polarcus Alima entering Wellington Harbour. Photo credit Polarcus UK.

The Code provides effective, practical mitigation measures for minimising acoustic disturbance of marine mammals during seismic surveys.

Highlights:

Marine reserves A–Z

Find out about and visit New Zealand's marine reserves.

Marine mammals

New Zealand marine mammals include many species of dolphins, seals and whales.

Protected coral species

Corals are invertebrate animals belonging to the phylum Cnidaria (from the Greek word 'Cnidos' meaning stinging nettle). There are five main classes of Cnidaria.

 

Find out more

Contacts

Phone 0800 DOC HOTline (0800 362 468) 24 hour emergency number to report:

Sick or injured wildlife
Whale or dolphin strandings

 
Conservation for prosperity. Tiakina te taiao, kia puawai
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