Researchers from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington have been working with Environment Southland to develop the first comprehensive classification of the different habitats in the Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) Marine Area. This area includes 14 fiords and 10 marine reserves.

“The aim of this project is to describe the distribution of different marine communities throughout Fiordland so, in the future, we can precisely map where they occur,” said Professor James Bell, a marine biologist at Te Herenga Waka.

The research team has already spent several weeks diving on rocky reefs and soft sediments on the seafloor in Fiordland’s Te Puaitaha—Breaksea and Tamatea—Dusky Sounds to collect data on the marine communities that live in these areas.

“Many locations we surveyed had a high diversity of species, while others had very different and very low diversity. At one site near Entry Island in Te Puaitaha—Breaksea, we found diverse communities of ascidians, bryozoans, and sponges living on rocky reefs. In contrast, neighbouring soft sediment areas of the seafloor had comparatively few species. It’s important to capture these extremes,” said Professor Bell.

The researchers dived to depths of about 30 metres, taking high resolution videos in Breaksea and Dusky Sounds. Analysis of this footage was used to classify the different communities found.

“Understanding which species are present is important, but we also need to know where they’re located. This project will eventually enable comprehensive maps of the different habitats across Fiordland and the wider Southland coast. This information can then be used to support management decisions.”

Professor Bell said further research was being undertaken to collect data from more locations in Breaksea and Dusky Sounds, and from deeper areas in the fiords.

“Eventually, we hope to have a complete picture of the different habitats in the entire Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) Marine Area.”

The research was funded by Environment Southland.

Ash Rabel, Environment Southland’s team leader—aquatic ecosystems, said cataloguing the communities and their composition in this way provides a strong foundation for future scientific endeavour and supports evidence-based management of these ecosystems.

“By undertaking this work with Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, we’re able to tap into world-class expertise and knowledge the team holds of the underwater realm,” he said.

Reports resulting from the research are available on Environment Southland’s website. The research is part of wider work to understand Fiordland’s ocean floor ecosystems as well as the rest of Murihiku Southland’s coastal marine area.