Anthropause effects on marine ecology in New Zealand
Studying anthropause effects on marine ecology in New Zealand – a preliminary data assessment of selected marine tourism areas
The working hypothesis for this investigation was “that the reduction in marine tourism activities as a result of COVID-19 travel restrictions led to measurable improvements to marine ecology”.
Environment Southland Regional Council (ES), Otago Regional Council (ORC) and Canterbury Regional Council (CRC) contracted Cawthron Institute to provide a preliminary desktop investigation of marine ecological data and tourism activities in five marine tourism areas of interest (AOI; Milford Sound / Piopiotahi, Stewart Island / Rakiura, Otago Harbour / Otakou, Akaroa Harbour and Kāikoura Peninsula. The overall aim of the project was to improve councils’ understanding of the ecological impacts of marine tourism on each AOI. The work will assist in informing future management of tourism in these areas.
This study focused on the time period of 19 March 2020 to 31 July 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic border lockdown in New Zealand or the anthropause period, a term now used globally to describe the substantial reduction in human mobility observed during COVID-19 lockdowns.
The working hypothesis for this investigation was “that the reduction in marine tourism activities as a result of COVID-19 travel restrictions led to measurable improvements to marine ecology”. To test this hypothesis, comparisons were made between data collected during periods of reduced international travel / tourism with data collected during periods with normal levels of tourism. These comparisons will be used to determine whether improvements to marine ecology can be measured.
Cruiseship in Milford Sound (Environment Southland)
Stage 1 (this report and Envirolink grant) focused on identifying suitable datasets of existing marine ecological time-series data and tourism activities at these AOI’s that could be used to undertake further comparative analysis in Stage 2. It is anticipated Stage 2 could link causal data (eg: species abundance and distribution) as a potential ‘line of evidence’ to infer causality from the explanatory variable(s) (e.g. passenger vessel traffic density, number of local tourism operation vessel trips, etc.). Preparation for undertaking Stage 2 is now underway between the three councils.
Kathryn McLachlan (Team Leader Marine Environment Southland) says the anthropause has provided a unique opportunity to assess the ecological impact of tourism activities in the AOI’s. Kathryn says “we hope the results will allow better management of coastal marine tourism in these areas as well as (for ES) assist with our coastal plan review, consent management and future monitoring work in the marine area”.
To view the full report for Stage 1 click on the link below:
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