Tasman’s marine area extends from Kahurangi Lighthouse in the south-west to Champion Road (Richmond) in the north-east.
Including the seabed, the marine area extends seaward from the mean high water mark out to the 12 nautical mile territorial limit. This covers a coast line of approximately 725 kilometres and includes many estuaries and inlets.
As part of the Tasman Resource Management Plan review a project has been commissioned to identify the sites of significant marine indigenous biodiversity under Policy 11 of the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement. The project is a multi-stage project and the first stage (in collaboration with Nelson City Council) was completed in 2023. Cawthron (with Salt Ecology, Davidson Environmental and Niwa) undertook a literature and spatial data search and have produced a series of map layers and reports regarding what is known about marine indigenous biodiversity in Nelson/Tasman. The Stage One project brings together and combines data from different sources to provide an important data source for coastal planning and restoration.
The following four reports have been received.
Tasman and Nelson Coastal Marine Environments: Bathymetry and Hydrosystems
This report discusses the mapped data relating to the Bathymetry (seabed depth etc) and Hydrosystems (e.g. estuary type) in Nelson Tasman. The marine habitats were considered under Policy 11 for importance and rarity and the report also contains a summary of environmental variables and vulnerabilities for the estuaries, such as eutrophication and sedimentation.
Tasman and Nelson Coastal Marine Environments: Habitats and Indigenous Biodiversity
This report identifies key mapped data relating to marine habitats and indigenous biodiversity in Nelson Tasman in accordance with requirements of Policy 11. The report and map contains over two hundred layers, with many of the layers consolidating previously separate maps e.g. the broadscale mapping projects and combines several data sources to produce a single layer regarding the location of specific species. The report also identifies information gaps and discusses and ranks the mahi required to fill the void.
Tasman Coastal Marine Environments: Effects of Activities
This report considers the effects of human activities on marine habitats and indigenous biodiversity. The map includes spatial data for a range of activities effects , such as fishing, sedimentation and land based contaminants and the reports discuss the effects of those activities.
Tasman Coastal and Marine Environments: Historical Data
This report considered the topic of historical biodiversity data. The report reviews information on the distribution and composition of marine habitats and biodiversity, such as mussel reefs that historically occurred within the coastal region, but are no longer present. Historical information on where species and habitats used to occur will be used to support the identification of restoration sites under Policy 14 of the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement.
Maps
The maps referred to in the above reports are too large (datawise) to be made readily available for the public and currently can only be viewed through a specialised map viewer. Some of the maps also have restrictions on how they can be used. Tasman and Nelson are working on developing a more accessible version of the maps and a link will be provided here once completed.
The area can be divided into three distinct geographical regions, Golden Bay and Tasman Bay, collectively known as Nelson Bays, and the West Coast.
Golden Bay's western boundary is Farewell Spit. Farewell Spit stretches 30 kilometres eastward into the Tasman Sea from the Cape Farewell mainland. The spit is an active feature and is still getting longer. A dune-fringed sandy beach faces the Tasman Sea while on the southern side the spit bounds an extensive shallow mudflat. Farewell Spit is on the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Significance.
Golden Bay lies at the edge of the junction between the Tasman Sea and Cook Strait. It stretches for 45 kilometres from Farewell Spit in the north to Separation Point located within Abel Tasman National Park at its southern extremity. Beyond this point, the larger of the two bays at the top of the South Island, Tasman Bay begins. Tasman Bay extends form Separation point to French Pass and Durville Island in the East.
An assessment of the ecological and landscape importance of the coastal environment from Kahurangi Point to Waimea Inlet was undertaken by the Department of Conservation in the early 1990’s (Davidson et al, 1993). Three areas were recognised as having international importance: Farewell Spit and tidal flats (for the ecological values of the wetland), Abel Tasman National Park coastline and estuaries (for outstanding seascapes, Separation Point bryozoans, and one of only two known locations of Peppercress Lepidium banksii) and No-Mans Island in Waimea Estuary (for the other known location of Peppercress). A total of 20 other sites were found to be nationally important, with 11 of these sites in Golden Bay, five sites in Tasman Bay and four sites on the West Coast. A range of values were present at these sites including the presence of rare or threatened species, unlogged coastal catchments, spectacular seascapes, and high degree of naturalness. Recommendations are listed for the management of these sites.
Golden and Tasman Bays (the Nelson Bays) fisheries are founded on the productivity of the Nelson Bays’ ecosystems. Phytoplankton (free floating, single-celled marine algae) start the marine food chain, by harnessing sunlight energy and nutrients to grow and reproduce. The Bays are a highly productive phytoplankton area feeding animal plankton (zooplankton) and filter-feeding shellfish that underpin aquaculture, fisheries and other ecological services within the Bays.
For more than two decades, our Reserves and Facilities team has been leading the Coast Care programme, working alongside local communities to restore and protect our coastal environment.
Coast Care is a community-based initiative focused on improving the health and resilience of our beaches, with volunteer programmes in place at key coastal areas.
Coast Care plantings have been established at Pūponga, Pākawau, Collingwood, Parapara, Patons Rock, Pōhara, Rototai, Ligar Bay, Tata Beach, Torrent Bay, Little Kaiteriteri, Stephens Bay, Tapu Bay, and Moturoa/Rabbit Island.
These nature-based restoration efforts, which include planting native dune species and removing invasive plants, are vital for enhancing the natural defences of our coastal areas.
Native dune plants, like spinifex and pingao, play a crucial role in trapping wind-blown sand and stabilising dunes, forming a protective barrier that buffers the shoreline from erosion, sea-level rise, and storm surges.
By strengthening these natural systems, Coast Care is helping to increase the resilience of our coastline to the impacts of climate change. This then helps safeguard the ecological integrity of our beaches and the adjoining coastal properties and infrastructure that rely on healthy, stable dunes for protection.
The success of Coast Care is largely due to the dedication of volunteers, local iwi, schools, and community groups, whose efforts ensure our coastal areas stay safe and beautiful for future generations.
To enquire about being involved with Coast Care contact the Parks and Reserves Staff
Estuaries are dynamic ecosystems located at the interface between the land and the sea.
They provide habitat for a wide variety of species including:
In recognition of the significance of past loss of these ecosystems, and the very high ecological and human use values provided by salt marsh and estuarine habitat generally, estuary restoration/rehabilitation initiatives are becoming increasingly common.
Council has undertaken some very small-scale rehabilitation and from October 2020 has Jobs for Nature funding to undertake larger-scale pilot projects. We'll provide more details about the projects as they progress on the Jobs For Nature page.
Several more obvious potential sites in the south-east part of the estuary have been prioritised sites for rehabilitation.
Motueka-Riuwaka Delta Estuaries Estuary Monitoring Programme November 2021
Moutere Inlet Estuary Monitoring Programme November 2021
Waimea Inlet Estuary Monitoring Programme November 2021
Waimea Estuary Saltmarsh Restoration Report_final 2021-04.pdf (pdf 5.3 MB)
Water quality is regularly monitored at popular swimming and recreational water sport locations within the Tasman District. the link below displays sampling results for each of the monitored sites.
View the water quality at popular monitored swimming sites around Tasman
Since 2015 the Top of the South Marine Biosecurity Partnership has been conducting in-water surveys of recreational boats in the Top of the South region to check for marine pests, assess levels of boat fouling, and to check for pests on adjacent structures like swing moorings and jetties.
The result is one of the most comprehensive marine pest survey databases around. It has been set up so you can explore the data and the maps very easily.
See the results for our region and get more information on their website.
Our environment offers a productive area for aquaculture, dredge fishing for shellfish and trawling or long line fishing for finfish.
Aquaculture has the potential to provide significant employment within the District from the sustainable use of sea space. However, it is a public commons and care needs to be taken in the development and management of aquaculture.
The activity is controlled by the Tasman Resource Management Plan (TRMP) which enables the opportunity for aquaculture and indicates where it is appropriate and where it is not. Zoning areas for aquaculture (and prohibiting it elsewhere) addresses the potential impact of aquaculture on natural character, landscape, public access, ecological, recreational, amenity values and those values important to tangata whenua iwi.
Fishing activities are not covered by the Tasman District Council. Fishing activities are controlled by the Ministry of Fisheries and information should be sought from their website . The Council obtained advice on the potential impacts of dredge and bottom trawl fishing on the sea bed from the National Institute and Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd. The report is available for reading.
Information on fishing from Fisheries New Zealand
Tasman Resource Management Plan rules
Marine Farms
Marine Reserves
As a Regional Authority, the Tasman District Council has trained staff and equipment available to respond to oil spills in the marine environment. This page provides emergency contacts and outlines Council's response capabilities.
If you see a vessel sinking or clearly in distress, dial the emergency services number: 111 (ask for the Police)
To report a marine oil spill around Tasman contact the Tasman District Council and ask to speak to the Regional On-Scene Commander or Harbourmaster: (03) 543 8400
Alternatively, contact the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand: 0508 472 269 (0800 4 RCCNZ) or (04) 914 8380
At sea, call the Maritime Operations Centre on VHF radio channel 16
Read about your responsibilities for reporting marine pollution spills or discharges
The Council's response capability is maintained through partnerships with Nelson City Council, Maritime New Zealand and Port Nelson. There are three levels of oil spill incidents:
| Type of spill | Responsibility | |
| Tier 1 | Small localised spills at site-specific locations such as at onshore or offshore oil transfer sites | Industry |
| Tier 2 | A small to moderate spill within the Territorial Sea (12 nautical miles) | Regional Council |
| Tier 3 | A large spill that is beyond the capability of the Regional Council or is outside the 12 nautical mile offshore boundary, and which requires a national response | Maritime New Zealand |
Tasman District Council maintains a contingency plan for responding to Tier 2 events. Oil spill preparedness is funded by the Oil Pollution Levy, which is paid by the industry sectors whose activities raise the risk of a marine oil spill. In the event of an oil spill, the polluter is liable for all costs associated with the response.
The Tasman District Council has a number of staff that are trained in safely and effectively responding to Tier 2 events. The staff are also trained to fit into a national Tier 3 response under the leadership of Maritime New Zealand, should it be necessary.
Staff are trained to fill the following roles:
Regular exercises are held in locations such as Port Nelson and Port Tarakohe to ensure that staff are:
