Less than 1% of our country’s seas are highly protected and the damaging practice of bottom-trawling must be restricted
It’s a remarkable feat that a small, isolated island nation of just five million people has managed to stake a claim to one of the largest ocean territories in the world.
New Zealand’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) spans more than 4m square kilometres – an area 15 times the size of our landmass.
But these rights carry responsibilities – in particular, the obligation to manage this vast ocean territory sustainably for future generations.
As leaders gather in Nice for the UN Ocean Conference this week, the spotlight will once again fall on the future of our blue planet – and whether countries are finally willing to “walk the talk” in the final sprint towards protecting 30% of our ocean by 2030.
