Fiordland underwater is globally unique. This uniqueness arises from a combination of factors including high mountains, heavy rainfall and the presence of temperate rainforest. In places Fiordland receives over 750 cm (300 inches) of rain a year. This water runs off through the leaf litter and picks up humic substances and tannins which stain the water a beer or tea colour. This darkly stained freshwater forms a layer over the seawater in the fiords causing a huge reduction in light levels. As a result, deepwater organisms are able to live in much shallower depths than elswhere. Black corals and other rare marine organisms can be seen at depths as shallow as 5 m.

It is an anomaly that this unique marine environment is not actually in Fiordland National Park. This stems from an era when only land based conservation was seen as important whereas today we take a far broader ecosystem approach.

A management strategy for the marine environment is required to make it possible to better manage and protect this national treasure. Currently management is shared between various groups including the Southland Regional Council, Conservation Department and the Ministry of Fisheries. Protective provisions of the National Parks Act do not apply to marine areas below high tide. Marine Reserve legislation is too restrictive and exclusive of commercial fishing and other activities and as a result has considerable opposition from many fiord users.

A new strategy needs your support. Email Chris Carter, the current Labour Government Conservation Minister with your comments.

Without help, the unique fiord marine environment could be badly degraded. You can help support this unique environment by raising awareness of the issues. A link from other sites would be welcomed.

Most of the photos on this site come from Fiordland Underwater, New Zealand's Hidden Wilderness by Paddy Ryan and Chris Paulin (1998, Exisle Publishing). In New Zealand this is available from Exisle Publishing Ltd. In the US and North America it is available from Pacific Island Books. For more high quality photos check out www.ryanphotographic.com

Photo quality is quite high so files are large. Please be patient. If you can't wait ... don't download anything larger than 40k.

Feedback is welcome.

Cheers,

Paddy Ryan

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Last modified on Sunday, January 08, 2006