Area Management Tools
What are they and how do they differ?
Taiāpure, mātaitai, and ‘Section 186 closures’ (where temporary closures are imposed) are the main ‘Area Management Tools’ (AMTs) available to Tangata Whenua to help them sustainably manage traditional customary fishing grounds. Temporary enclosures impose a temporary ban on taking nominated species or a restriction on nominated fishing methods to help restore depleted stocks – as such it is very different from Marine Reserves which are permanent and complete ‘no-take’ zones. Taiāpure and mātaitai are closer in intent to the Marine Parks where local fishing rules protect sustainability, but they are established, led, managed and protected by Tangata Tiaki (environmental guardians) appointed by Tangata Whenua. The managers of the taiāpure and mātaitai reach their sustainability goals mainly by passing local fishing rules, advocacy and education, directing research and helping the Ministry of Fisheries with surveillance and compliance.
Taiāpure are often managed in collaboration with local fishing stakeholders (recreational and commercial fishers) and commercial fishing continues but may be subject to the taiāpure rules. Mātaitai can be constituted and run entirely by Tangata Whenua, though in practice other interest groups are often drawn into co-management by the Tangata Tiaki. Commercial fishing is normally excluded from mātaitai reserves. Mātaitai may be established in lakes, rivers, estuaries and coastal areas, but taiāpure can only be applied to marine (littoral) and estuarine environments. You can learn more about the comparative history and scope of mātaitai and taiāpure by downloading Nigel Scott’s AMT Guidebook, AMT Pamphlet and PowerPoint presentation Comparison of Mātaitai & Taiāpure.
Mātaitai, taiāpure and temporary closures are potentially powerful tools to ensure sustainability because communities can use their local knowledge to fine-tune fishing rules to match local ecological and social pressures. Local matching and tuning is less likely to happen in a national 'one-size-fits-all' approach, or where regulations are set over vast areas of New Zealand’s coast. They are also splendid examples of 'bottom-up' approaches to conservation that contrast with the 'top-down' approach predominating in the Ministry of Fisheries and The Department of Conservation.
More about taiāpure, mātaitai and temporary closure area management tools.
