Failure to save species causes alarm

Press, 4 November 1978, Page 15

Failure to save species causes alarm

Increasing alarm is evident about New Zealand's problem of rare and endangered species of ma-

rine flora and fauna, and the failure to resolve it. In marine habitats, apart from fish and some of the larger molluscs and Crustacea, rare and endangered species are unlikely to be known. Dr W. J. Ballantine, director of the Leigh

Laboratory at the University of Auckland, wants a more enlightened and energetic use of the ’ Marine Reserves Act to solve the problem. This would mean a twopronged attack — the protection from active exploitation and direct harm, and the preservation of habitats by forming habitat reserves. His solution would

apply equally on land. The New Zealand bird list is full of examples of species accorded legal protection but which continued to decline until (often almost too late) reserves were established for them. There are more than 1000 rare and endangered species of marine invertebrates in the index of Leigh Laboratory, recorded in the immediate district.

Dr Ballantine said that estimates made by other methods indicated that the number (excluding protozoa and parasites) was probably 6000-12,000. All habitats were known ;o be under varying degrees of human pressure, either direct or indirect, and sometimes quite intense. However, Dr Ballantine said, it. was possible to set

aside areas with various habitats to protect species against human activities.

If made a sensible size and well located, they would act automatically as nursery grounds for exploited species, as areas in which the general effects of human activities could be determined by comparison, and places for non-destructive recreation.